4 [] Chapter Four: The legendary line

He cleared his mind and looked into her eyes. She was undoubtedly an expert, and just by seeing how formidable an opponent she was, his blood started to boil. The long-forgotten excitement of battle started to reappear. Her katana pointed at him with deadly intent, and neither of them moved. The one who would make the first move would be at a disadvantage.

"I am Tanvir Kaizer," he said with a calm face, but his mind and body couldn't wait to fight. He remembered the moment when that kid gave him the same look, and he had broken the kid's hands in a fight. His life had changed, and he had lost his excitement for battle, but now it was reappearing after such a long time, stronger than ever.

"Kaizer family it is! You may die now," she muttered.

—Clank!

Sparks flew from their weapons as they collided, just like last time, or even worse. His hands shook as the force was too much for him to handle.

As their weapons clashed, sparks flew in all directions. The force of her attacks was overwhelming, and he had to admit that she was a powerful opponent, even if not quite an expert. He saw a vulnerability and decided to exploit it, without hesitation. As he baited her into a lunging strike, he swiftly sidestepped, narrowly avoiding her katana's deadly edge. Using the momentum of her own attack, he launched a counterstrike aimed at her exposed neck.

However, in that crucial moment, he realized what he was about to do and quickly retracted his attack, redirecting it towards her weapon. Valentine reacted with incredible reflexes, twisting her body to evade his strike and countering with a swift kick that sent him flying, crashing into the water with a resounding splash.

"Shit, that hurts a lot," he groaned as he quickly rose to his feet, regaining his posture. Valentine had sheathed her katana and maintained eye contact.

"Why did you?" she asked calmly, her gaze unwavering.

Confused for a moment, he realized what she was referring to. "It was my fault for seeing you like that, and I didn't want to make the situation worse. Besides, how could I harm such a beauty?" He muttered, averting his gaze. His words were genuine, and he found her katana style fascinating.

"I see. I'll spare your life. Let's not meet each other again," she said with a stern expression before turning around and vanishing into the deep forest.

He watched her disappearing form and chuckled to himself. "One day, I'll make you mine. So, don't be too cold," he muttered. Well, who wouldn't want a badass woman!

With that resolved, he surveyed his surroundings. Not having had a chance to explore earlier, he took a moment to appreciate the serene atmosphere of the hot spring. After a brief respite, he decided to indulge in the soothing waters, his well-developed body glistening with bulging muscles.

Unbeknownst to him, a figure was standing on a nearby branch, visibly embarrassed. "You... I only wanted to gift you something to make it even," she said, her hand covering her eyes as she peeked between her fingers. She turned away but still couldn't resist stealing glances at him. "We're even now," she muttered before disappearing.

Meanwhile, Tanvir was too engrossed with his own thoughts about his remarkable physique and his big Excalibur.

"I wonder how many women will fall for me... I'm handsome too," he mused, enjoying the relaxing hot spring. He had savored the beauty of the landscape, a memorable battle, and now a soothing bath. Life seemed good.

After a while, he reluctantly left the hot spring, dressed himself, and headed in the direction Valentine had gone. His thoughts wandered to the idea of a possible relationship between the two of them. "Valentine Ashber and Erik Alden are not a bad match, I think," he chuckled, fantasizing about their future. "How fun it would be if we got together and got married. I would tell our kids the story of our first meeting and the legendary line of the century: 'So, kids, that's how I met your mother!'" He laughed to himself, finding the idea amusing.

"Ah well, whatever," he shrugged. "I had my feast with my eyes and an enchanting battle, so who cares?" With his carefree spirit, he continued on his way, not dwelling on the peculiarities of his circumstances.

Eventually, he reached a clearing in the dense forest. With no major events happening for ten minutes, he had been hoping for some excitement. As he arrived at a cliff, a cold breeze greeted him, clearing his sweat. Just as he was taking in the view, his world suddenly changed.

Hissing sounds filled the air, and enormous eyes appeared, blocking his entire field of vision. He remained still, locked in a silent stare with the giant serpent. Its scales glistened ominously.

"Well, well, I'm in trouble again," he mumbled to himself.

The tension was palpable, but then, an unexpected voice echoed in his head. It was a sweet voice belonging to the massive snake.

"Why are you here? The second phase is about to begin. The dark monsters here will soon lose their minds," she said. He realized the snake was trying to communicate with him.

"Apologies, I was looking for a place," he responded, understanding the urgency of the situation.

"Why haven't you found a place yet? We had plenty of time to find a good spot. Never mind, quickly come with me. It will start any moment. I bet the other disciples from your sect have already found their places," she urged. The snake's tail wrapped around him and gently lifted him off the ground. He was nervous but also intrigued by the talking serpent.

The snake took him down from the cliff, revealing a hidden chamber under it. Another person was already there, dressed in a black hood and mask that concealed all facial features. Only the clothing hinted at her being a woman.

The snake placed him on the ground before undergoing a remarkable transformation. It gradually shrank and took on a human form, revealing a stunning woman with pointy ears, sharp eyebrows, and long black hair. Her beautiful green eyes met his.

"Why...is there something on my face?" she asked, her expression puzzled.

"No, no, it's just that you are beautiful," he replied, a bit embarrassed by his own words.

She blushed slightly but thanked him for the compliment. Another voice, one that sounded more disgusted, came from the hooded figure.

"Tch... I told you, sister, not to save him. Now look at him; he's a pervert," the hooded figure remarked.

"Don't be too rude, Ophelia," the beautiful woman said, scolding the hooded figure. She then turned her attention back to him.

"Thank you for your help

," he said, feeling slightly awkward.

"Hmm, it's okay. The second phase is about to begin. Let's make the most of it," she replied and took a seat next to the hooded figure, adopting a meditation pose.

" You should start as well," she told him. "To establish a good foundation. You've already missed your golden age of cultivation." With that, she closed her eyes.

Confused but eager to understand more, he followed their example and sat down, closing his eyes. As he focused on meditation, he felt a warm and cold sensation on his skin, similar to what he had experienced with qi infusion. This new phase seemed to accelerate his cultivation rate.

"Is this the second phase?" he wondered.

As he continued meditating, his thoughts wrestled with his own random inner monologues. It was challenging to reach a calm state of mind, and the minutes ticked by.

Eventually, he achieved the stillness he sought. In this tranquil state, the world seemed quiet, and he could hear the sounds of nature around him. The falling water, the rustling leaves, and even his own breathing. He felt a sense of calm that was rare in his chaotic life. A blue screen appeared in his mind, but he didn't let it distract him from this newfound state he is in now.

[ To be continued... ]