I, Guinevere, am going to crush you, you curry stick, today!

……

Kai's body was swept ashore by a wave. The icy, bone-chilling seawater almost completely robbed him of his consciousness. If he hadn't managed to grasp the scepter just before losing consciousness, he felt he would probably have sunk to the bottom of the sea by now, only to surface a few days or months later as a floating corpse that no one would recognize.

He would rather die by the enemy's sword or spear than suffer such a tragic end.

Fortunately, it seemed that the goddess of fate hadn't decided to kill him yet. The power of the sea god's treasure temporarily shielded him from the bone-chilling cold. Kai shivered, surfaced, and gasped for breath while looking around to see how the others were doing.

He hadn't forgotten that someone was a complete landlubber, and couldn't help but worry. But the raging tide and towering waves before him made it impossible to see even the strangely shaped giant, let alone the two figures that looked as tiny as insects in comparison.

Kai stared in one direction for a moment, but found nothing. He was about to turn his head away.

Suddenly, at the dark horizon, a glimmer of light appeared and vanished in an instant. Kai initially thought it was his imagination, but in the blink of an eye, the dazzling light parted the waves and shot towards him!

"Is it... a sword?"

The young man, half-submerged in the sea, gradually raised his head as the light drew ever closer. At the last moment, he suddenly realized what was happening and hurriedly dodged to the side, almost brushing past the streak of light. When he turned back, what he saw in his eyes was a sharp sword, shining like a lake under the moonlight.

"Arondette—"

Faintly, it seemed as if someone's voice was calling out. As if on command, the sword that flew through the air suddenly made a ninety-degree right-angle turn, soared into the sky, and, under Kai's gaze, pierced through the wind and waves, heading straight into the sky.

High in the sky, a silver portal appeared out of thin air, and from within the light, a slender, pale hand reached out and firmly grasped the longsword. The portal then vanished, leaving only a long robe fluttering in the wind.

The female magician casually lifted her hood, revealing a cascade of long hair, a faint smile still playing on her lips. But as she lowered her head slightly, gazing at the azure beast below, her expression was one of unprecedented solemnity.

After a moment, Merlin shook his head, gazing silently at the elven runes inscribed on the sword, watching the battle between the people and monsters at sea. His posture was that of a detached bystander.

It also seemed as if it was waiting for something.

……

"The Arena of Destiny, one of the four sacred domains of the Druids, the long-standing trial of Fendias, the most sublime arena. Stripped of all unnecessary external factors, it is purely a contest of skill against skill, a clash of souls—"

"With the fall of Fendias, the true arena of destiny also disappeared, but the Sword of Light, the power of Krausolas, can still recreate this ancient trial to some extent. If I'm not mistaken, Father, you have already experienced it firsthand and successfully passed this test."

"That's why Clausolas approves of you."

"What you need to do now is to challenge the other party—the goddess Macha who has taken over that body. Regardless of victory or defeat, your soul and hers will temporarily leave the body and remain in the arena opened up by the sword of light. The Wave Beast, which has lost its controller and is left with only the instincts of a wild beast, is still powerful, but it is no longer an invincible opponent for Sister Lily and the others."

"But correspondingly, until the trial ends and a victor is determined, you will be completely unaware of anything happening outside. Even if someone tries to harm you, you will have no power to resist... if you believe me..."

His scarlet eyes darted away, but finally met her gaze directly: "During this time, I won't let anyone touch a single hair on your head, Dad."

……

No matter how many times you experience the feeling that your body and soul are not yet fully in sync, you still can't get used to it.

From the moment a thought arises in the mind to the moment the body begins to act, there may only be a delay of a few seconds. However, in one's own perception, it feels like a poor person who has just recovered from a serious illness and has not been able to get out of bed for months or even years. Every move is accompanied by an unbearable stiffness.

The bodies she had previously seized belonged to mortals of this era, so she was able to master them without much effort. However, this heavy body she had finally managed to seize made her feel restless and impatient once again.

Even now, she still can't understand why a living Wave Beast would still exist in this era when its kin and most magical beasts have vanished... Of course, this question isn't important. In any case, even if she looked down on this cumbersome and foolish magical beast back then, in this era of the demise of the Age of Gods, it is arguably the vessel most capable of displaying its own abilities.

Perhaps because it had been sealed for thirty years, the process of taking over the body was not difficult at all; in fact, it was almost too easy... In the instant that the consciousness of the Wave Beast was completely devoured, it seemed to sense a strange aura that was very familiar, but for a moment it could not remember what it was. The aura then disappeared without a trace.

She had been frequently switching bodies recently, which had taken a toll on her health, and she needed time to rest and recover. Once this body's strength had recovered to about 80%... no, to about 60% or 70%, coupled with her divine magic that far surpassed mortal comprehension, probably no one would be able to threaten her anymore.

When that time comes, we can begin to seriously search for the entrance to other worlds and go to join Nuada and the others...

A multitude of thoughts rushed in, and because of the separation between body and soul, each thought seemed to emerge exceptionally slowly. She was immersed in memories of the past, occasionally fantasizing about the future, while somewhat laboriously maneuvering the monster's body across the sea. A few annoying insects seemed to be trying to interfere, and the weapon also made her feel a slight threat. Unfortunately, the user's skills were too immature…

Too immature...

She didn't know when, but she seemed to hear a sound... perhaps the sound of waves, she thought, and casually cast a spell to block the sword light that was slashing towards her—foolish mortals. Her resistance was too futile; more than anger, she felt a faint sense of helplessness. Since they couldn't hurt her anyway, she thought, "Let them do whatever they want... If they've gone too far, I could easily crush them in an instant."

On the contrary, the sound was still ringing out.

It sounded like something I'd heard before. The sound reached my ears, and although I understood it clearly, my mind couldn't quite process it. I just stood there, blankly wondering what it could be... Not far away, the person who had been thrown off balance by a wave struggled to his feet again, seemingly planning to use his sword to launch another attack. On the other side, a girl in armor was rushing across the sea... They were all just insects.

No need to worry.

Compared to that, what exactly am I hearing now...?

……

The sound suddenly became clear in my ears!

As if separated by a curtain, her consciousness suddenly cleared up at this moment. For a moment, she didn't even react. In her astonishment, she watched the surrounding scenery change rapidly. The waves receded, the gale stopped, and the scene finally settled on a wide open space, crowded with people, forming a circle inside and out.

She stood in the very center of the empty space in the crowd, with a square marble slab in front of her.

On the large rock.

A cracked sword was stuck in its socket.

"The Sword of Light, Krauss!?" Despite its many differences, she immediately recognized the sword and exclaimed in surprise. Only then did she see her own reflection in the gleaming blade.

It was not a colossal, azure beast as large as a mountain.

Instead, she was a tall, middle-aged woman with long, fiery red hair and a matching bright red cloak.

"This is the arena of fate!"

She looked at the large and small fragments that had been broken apart by the cracks on the sword. Each fragment reflected the red-haired woman's surprised expression as she took a step back. This was herself—this was the real her.

This is myself, who died long ago!

Suddenly, a flash of sword light appeared, rippling like water, as if a deep roar came from a very distant place.

Dragon's Roar.

Macha identified the source of the sound, and her expression changed again.

Today, even if there are beasts of the waves, how could there possibly still be dragons?

Before she could draw a conclusion, she saw the crowd in the center part to make way for her. A blonde girl, about ten years old, walked slowly towards her. Behind her, a phantom black dragon seemed to appear, its wings spread, and a pair of huge, dark yellow pupils staring at her.

"Guinevere..."

The girl reached out her hand.

Clausolas immediately let out a joyful tremor, leaped into the air, and landed in her palm.

Guinevere stopped in her tracks. The illusory black dragon shadow behind her descended, transforming into a red and black cloak that draped over her body. The cloak billowed high in the wind, and as the hem swayed, the tip of a sword, gleaming with a cold light, rose up.

"...I volunteer for the battle."

P.S.: A long chapter of 4,000 words!

This part of the story should be over in about two or three chapters... What's with all that distrustful look in your eyes?! Don't forget to vote for it! And if you have any monthly tickets, please give them to me too, thanks!

Chapter 144 Shining in the Farthest Places (Part 2)

"Guinevere..."

The illusory black dragon's wings folded, transforming into a cloak that fluttered in the wind like a flag, concealing the girl's slender figure. Guinevere walked slowly, her tone calm, past the large rock in the center of the clearing. With a swift movement, she drew the sword—which appeared to be painstakingly pieced together from several fragments—from her hand. In her grasp, the sword shone like a lone flame, its brilliance dazzling, almost blinding.

"...I volunteer for the battle."

These last few words, seemingly stretched out by the wind, reached her ears and caused the red-haired goddess to pause slightly. Looking back, it seemed she hadn't felt such direct hostility in a long time… but her brief surprise and disorientation instantly transformed into a raging inferno.

Since when did such a weak mortal, an ant she could crush with a flick of her wrist, dare to speak so disrespectfully in front of her?

"act recklessly!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the red-haired woman spread her left hand, made a half-clenched fist, and instantly drew out a nearly ten-meter-long cone of lightning, which then contracted into a long whip, and lashed out fiercely at the girl. The lightning was incredibly fast, almost instantly striking her in front of her, but Guinevere neither dodged nor yielded. Following an inexplicable confidence, she even took a step forward to meet the attack head-on. Her cloak billowed, and a faint dragon's roar echoed through the air.

Ma examined her "whip," which had struck the red and black cloak squarely without causing any scorching or cracking. With a loud boom, countless bolts of lightning, now freed from magical restraint, immediately spread out backward like a fan. Until they disappeared, not a single wisp of magic touched the girl standing in the center.

The cloak that had blocked the attack fell back down.

Guinevere raised her hand and slightly adjusted its position, her emerald green eyes reflecting the somewhat surprised red-haired woman in front of her.

She wouldn't tell him that the cloak represented the power of the dragon, which originated from the same source as Fafnir.

Similar to Siegfried, the dragon slayer in legend who was bathed in dragon's blood, she also possessed an indestructible defense, magic resistance that was no less than that of Artoria, and superhuman strength beyond the realm of ordinary people.

Moreover, unlike Siegfried, whose back was exposed due to being hidden by leaves, the girl had no obvious flaws.

However, nothing in this world is perfect. Fafnir's power within her was already limited, and coupled with the unexpected rejection from the Sword of Light, by the time Guinevere realized what was happening and hurriedly managed to salvage the last bit of power, it was already clear that this powerful force had its flaws.

To be precise, the skill has changed from passive to active, and it also has a time limit... She had previously tested it, and under full power, the jet-black armor formed from the power of the evil dragon could only last for less than an hour.

Once Fafnir's last bit of magic is exhausted, it won't become completely ineffective, but the recovery will be extremely slow. According to the rough calculations made earlier, it will probably take at least a whole day before it can be used again.

According to Guinevere's own speculation, this might be because Fafnir originated from a "nightmare," and manifesting this power in the real world would naturally be met with resistance and correction from the world itself. However, this is just a conjecture based on the fragmented knowledge of the game she still remembers. The truth will have to wait until things are over before she can consult and research it further.

However, all these restrictions have one premise.

That is in reality—

Although the curse of the dragon also affects the physical body, it essentially acts directly on the soul. Therefore, after this power becomes docile, Guinevere can manipulate it at will in certain situations without worrying about time or other limitations.

E.g.

A battle that takes place on the level of the soul.

"From this perspective alone, this highly restrictive ability is a perfect match for Clausolas's arena of destiny..."

Guinevere looked up, a corner of her cloak fluttering as it fell back down. Before the red-haired woman's astonished expression could fully fade, countless bolts of electricity swept across her back, crackling and popping in the air. A cold light flashed on the blade, and the girl vanished without a trace. Macha's eyes narrowed, and she crossed her hands, conjuring two circular magic circles that formed out of thin air, which she used as shields to protect herself.

Pong!

Flames scattered, footsteps retreated, and the sharp sword slammed heavily into the overlapping shields. A shattering sound rang out!

……

The first to notice something amiss was Lily, whose intuition was the sharpest.

There was simply no way to fight this monster in front of them—the three of them reached this extremely helpless conclusion after only a short while of fighting.

This is a self-evident fact.

From beginning to end, including the person who summoned lightning in the distance, all five participants were outstanding in strength. Even Kai, who was relatively the least outstanding, could easily defeat dozens of ordinary soldiers with his spear. However, in just one exchange, the unidentified supporter summoned two waves of lightning and then disappeared without a trace. Vivian's magic was countered, and she suffered severe injuries. Not only was her clone destroyed, but her main body's fate was also unknown. Only Gawain, Kai, and Lily remained.

But despite their best efforts, they couldn't even attract the monster's attention.

Lily could see—almost everyone could see—that from beginning to end, the other party had not truly focused their attention on this side. Even when Gawain wielded the Holy Sword, the slash seemed to be nothing more than a slightly troublesome disturbance to this magical beast, which it easily blocked.

It's like a child who can't even stand properly throwing a punch at a strong adult. To onlookers, it might just seem innocent and cute, but only when you actually encounter such a situation can you understand the despair involved.

But that's why.

It is precisely because the gap is so large that it is despairing.

That's why someone has to step forward and stand in front, even if it's just to delay the destruction for a minute or a second. Because every second gained could be the moment dawn breaks—

"Brother Kai!"

A silver-white figure raced across the sea as if on flat ground. The raging waves around her swept in, but could not slow her pace in the slightest. With a shout, Lily pushed off with all her might, her entire body leaping into the air like a bird. Completely focused, she didn't even notice that she had reverted to her usual form of address. Instead, the young knight who had been addressed couldn't help but grin: "How stupid..."

Kai stood unsteadily on a wooden plank—the one Gawain had thrown at him earlier—and raised his right hand. The Scepter of the Sea God shone brightly, abruptly freezing a giant wave that had just risen in mid-air. The spray solidified, resembling a spectacular ice and snow phenomenon. Lily took her first step on the splashing waves, using the momentum to rise again. With a few leaps, she had already flipped over the frozen wave that resembled a city wall, her figure soaring high into the air, sword in hand.

As they ascended higher, their vision broadened, and in the blink of an eye, they came into view of the azure-blue monster. Its massive body bobbed and swayed, its back covered in armor like a forest of spears, exuding an aura of brutal battlefield. Lily slightly adjusted her angle in mid-air, gripped her sword hilt tightly, and like a shooting star, plummeted towards its broad back!

Watching the figure clad in silver armor leap high into the air, Kai changed his grip to hold a staff with both hands, lowering his body slightly as if he were holding a spear. Under his control, the waves that had been suspended in mid-air suddenly resumed their flow, and then, under the intervention of powerful force, gradually transformed into a spear over ten meters long, slowly taking shape from tip to tip, directly aimed at the head of the wave beast.

the other side.

Standing atop the wreckage of the broken fishing boat, Gao Wen raised his right hand and tossed the Sword of Victory high into the air. In the raging wind and waves, the seemingly tiny sword tip was swallowed up, and then suddenly released a dazzling and astonishing brilliance!

"go--"

The water condensed into a spear, and Kai thrust it forward with both hands, veins bulging on his brows. With a crack, the wooden planks shattered, but the enormous spear thrust forward as well. The demonic beast let out a deafening roar, as if the sky itself had suddenly darkened. Its advancing body abruptly stopped, and it turned around, swinging its front paws. With a single blow, it shattered the sea monster's incredible attack!

Something's not right...

Kai himself was not disappointed. In fact, after several previous tests, he would have been shocked if such an attack could hurt the other party. But the monster's reaction made him pause for a moment, and his eyebrows furrowed slightly as he soaked in the seawater.

As the water gun was shattered by a claw, the tossed holy sword fell back down and was grasped by Gawain again. With a flick of his wrist, he paused the blade at his left ribs—his most frequently used sword technique starting stance—and swung it forward. Like a blazing beam of sunlight, it was like a straight line between the sky and the sea, cutting through the ocean from bottom to top and striking directly at the belly of the wave beast.

Now that we know that a single attack won't be enough to defeat this monster, the only tactic we can hastily come up with and implement is to disrupt the opponent's actions by creating a brief time difference and try to draw out an opening.

Despite the slim chances of success.

But apart from that, the three of them couldn't think of a better way to deal with it at the moment.

Before the sun's rays could fall upon the magical beast, Lily, who was in the air, suddenly sensed something amiss. Her elevated position gave her a wider field of vision than the other two, and it was because of this that she noticed the Wave Beast's movements seemed to have changed suddenly at some point.

At first, it was just the swaying of her body as it rose and fell, but the waves it created became noticeably more violent, and so on. These subtle differences were things that, if not for her keen intuition and lifelong keen observation skills, others might not have noticed. The next moment, when her opponent suddenly turned around and shattered Kai's water spear with a single claw, Lily's doubts grew stronger than ever before.

Why would a monster that could cast such a powerful yet delicate magical shield suddenly become so violent?

Was he finally provoked by them? But...

Feeling her body plummeting rapidly, Gawain, on the other side of her vision, once again unleashed the power of his holy sword. Although its sun-like radiance seemed somewhat dimmed compared to the initial burst, as if indicating its master's declining condition, the sweeping sword light still possessed the power to cleave mountains and split seas. A question arose in her mind, but she forcefully suppressed it. Regardless, the most important thing now was to find a way to break through the monster's impenetrable defense…