"Woah!!!~~~"
The entire crowd was in silence before they burst out with boisterous voices, cheering out loud. They suddenly found Natalya to be capable, entirely deserving of her name as the second wife of the Emperor of Death.
Alexi Ethren's eyes were wide with shock. He knew that Natalya should be strong but not this strong enough to handle that sword strike at such a close range. His initial goodwill of wanting to aid her during battling left, making him aware that she was a menace in the disguise of normalcy.
There was practically nothing unique about her until she unleashed that icy lotus that looked transcendent and radiated a chill vaster than the Falling Snow Sect's or Mystic Ice Sect's ice nature. No, he even felt that it completely overwhelmed theirs.
*Clap!~* *Clap!~* *Clap!~*
Suddenly, the sound of two hands clapping was heard as everyone turned their heads and saw Young Palace Master Faus Lanate walking towards Natalya.Where Stories Blossom: N♡vεlB¡n.
"Marvelous defense. I can see that's why Young Miss Niera iterated that your defense is way better than Beauty Mu Bing's."
"I'm battling someone else right now." Natalya calmly spoke as her melodious voice echoed, "Do you want to cut in line?"
"Indeed."
Young Palace Master Faus Lanate spread his hands and grinned.
"Just a while ago, Lady Natalya stated that no fires can quell your ice, so I was wondering if mine would be able to make you submit!"
"...!?"
The crowd became shook on hearing Young Palace Master Faus Lanate's words while Natalya just narrowed her eyes.
Was he courting death?
The Glorious Pill Palace looked anxious as they shifted their gazes to glance at the Emperor of Death but seeing his expression remain relaxed, they inwardly sighed as they assumed that he didn't find Young Master Faus Lanate's words offending.
"You speak to me like that again, and I assure you that you wouldn't be leaving unscathed."
However, Natalya warned as she raised an arm, her frail fingers clenching to show that she wasn't kidding.
"Huh? Unscathed?" Young Palace Master Faus Lanate's eyes trembled while his expression alternated between composure and madness, "Do I look unscathed to you?"
Natalya closely looked at his expression before she sighed.
"So you want revenge?"
Considering what happened between Davis and him, it would be surprising if he was still able to retain his composure as though nothing had happened.
"Oh, no. I don't dare to take revenge, but this is a competition, and we're merely competitors."
What's more, judging by the intensity of his prowess, it had very well reached the divide between Mid-Level Law Rune Stage and High-Level Law Rune Stage, meaning that he had created a Vast Sea that was at least eighty kilometers in size!
He had the qualifications to stand tall and walk proud, but the Emperor of Death suddenly ruined his entire reputation!
*Whoosh!~*
Amidst the increasingly tense atmosphere, Faus Lanate suddenly shot towards Natalya with intense speed and neared her, punching out with his crimson fist.
*Boom!~*
Sundering fires exploded out when he opened his palm, and in response, Natalya raised her arm and simply waved.
The icy wave simply parted the waves of fires threatening to engulf her and turn her into ashes as they ended up receding into thin air.
"...!?"
Young Palace Master Faus Lanate's expression fell. However, he didn't give up and rapidly threw a conflagration of fiery attacks at her.
Billowing waves of flames sundered the space from the sides, and there were ones that struck from above like a meteor. His control over flames was one that even exceeded Niera and Dalila alike, but Natalya had only one simple response for his strikes, which was to wave a hand and make the fires disappear as though they had never been lit.
"Damn you...!"
Faus Lanate clenched his teeth as his expression warped in hatred. Why couldn't he get her when she should just be a little bitch under his control!?
He had researched about Natalya, knowing that she should have the weakest inborn talent of all, and yet, how was she doing this to him!?
But different than him, who had his mind clouded, the crowd could clearly see that Natalya's prowess was superior! Their techniques were made so quick and unleashed that it made space increasingly tremble, but whenever it seemed as though it was about to give in, space didn't crack, nor did the status quo break.
Natalya's arm motions were frail yet elegant. Each movement of her slim hand disrupted the entire sequence of Faus Lanate's fiery attacks. However, he was getting closer and closer, and for whatever reason, it may be amidst his violent attacks, people did not perceive it to be as something good.
Even then, Natalya did not seem to be shaken, appearing unperturbed.
*Boom!~*
Abruptly, the wisp of crimson flames suddenly exploded before Natalya, causing an explosion that hindered her sight. Just when she thought he had used this opportunity to retreat, a figure came out rushing from the crimson fumes as it struck against her.
Natalya easily deflected the rising curtain of flames that was about to strike her by turning them into motes of dazzling ice that appeared like snow but then, her eyes narrowed as she saw Faus Lanate arrive in front of her without any regard to his safety, even raising his hands towards her instead of retreating.
At this moment, time seemed to turn still.
*Bzzz!~*
Faus Lanate's hand was just about to reach Natalya's cheek to connect with a heavy slap when suddenly his entire being became encased in ice, stopping him in place!