The [Golden Crown] instantly created a staff decorated with three coiling branches, and a green aura exploded outward from her, filling everything with her presence. All the summons strengthened, and the area became her domain!
Then, Kali charged with the [Golden Crown] behind her toward the Tigerkin, longsword in hand. "Let's do this!"
The Tigerkin also charged toward them and whistled. The crane dove straight down without minding the arrows.
The dryads didn't let that chance slip and fired a barrage of arrows toward it. They hit it and tore inside its body, making blood splash. The crane hissed in pain but followed its master call and continued diving.
Kali frowned without stopping her run. 'Does he not care if it dies? Then… I'm sorry.' "[Arrow Enhancement: Parasite root]."
The wood the dryads summoned for their arrows took a greenish, blue shade. The dryads shot another round of arrows, landing on the Crane.
This time, the Crane directly screeched as it felt the arrows lodging into its skin and spread roots inside its body, absorbing its vitality.
The Tigerkin continued his run toward Kali with determination filling his eyes. Kali didn't lower her guard and clashed swords with him.
*CLANG!* A loud metallic sound followed, and the strength of the tigerkin almost sent Kali! Her feet slid on the ground for tens of meters, and she still felt numb in her arms, 'Such strength!'
The Tigerkin stomped on the ground, approached Kali rapidly, and attacked, utilizing the gap created by Kali's misjudgment.
However, the [Golden Crown] came between them and used her staff to stand up to him. He didn't change the course of his attack and used a sword skill.
The staff and sword met.
*CLANG!*
To the tigerkin's surprise, the three-meter-tall [Golden Crown] stood her ground! Thanks to the surprising strength of the summon, both came to a standstill! 'No way, her summon is stronger than herself? What kind of summon is this!?'
Kali's [Golden Crown] was her trump card. It was a skill that wasn't in the library of the Academy, and she got it from a scroll in an auction house. Moreover, the skill mutated thanks to her bloodline.
The [Golden Crown] was not only an extremely apt commander. The higher Kali's cultivation level, the wiser it became. Kali had vaguely noticed that [Golden Crown] learned from others and gained more sentience as more time passed. Therefore, while training, she always takes her out.
Moreover, after her traumatic event happened, she always poured her troubles on her, making the [Golden Crown] more than a skill. For Kali, the three-meter tall lady was more like a family member.
The [Golden Crown] swung her staff expertly and exchanged attacks with the Tigerkin. The crane reached right at this moment!
It was riddled with wounds, and most of its plumage had fallen. One wing was broken, and its visible skin had roots swelling its skin as if worms were wiggling inside of it. However, using its wind attribute, it managed to reach its master's aid. However, the Tigerkin didn't care and shouted, "Slow down this summon!"
Kali was behind the [Golden crown], observing him, and when she saw the crane's eyes, she was surprised; they had an unusual glow. 'He isn't a beast tamer; he is a beast enslaver!'
A beast enslaver was the demonic type of a beast tamer. In comparison, beast tamers fight with their beasts and treat them like family. The demonic ones use curses and rituals to enthrall them. This ritual has some risks to the caster since it could backfire, but the beast will obey unconditionally when successful.
The method to differentiate them is looking at the beast's eyes. They would normally release black fumes from their eyes when A beast enslaver put them under their control. However, this characteristic was hard to see from a distance.
The Crane attacked the [Golden Crown], and she faced off against the crane. It was just a matter of time before she killed it with how weakened it was.
Nonetheless, thanks to this, the tigerkin was able to attack Kali. Kali, however, sneered, "Get him."
The dryads that were focusing on the Crane changed objectives toward the tigerkin! Parasite arrows fired from eight directions, and roots emerged from the ground. The tigerkin opened his eyes, and Kali lunged toward him. Her voice beautifully echoed as if it was a sound coming from nature itself. "[Forest dance]."
Her footwork became elegant, her eyes glowed verdant green through the veil, and her long chestnut-colored hair danced with the wind. Her sword flashed time and time again with swift, precise, yet elegant strokes. Tatyana raised an eyebrow and filmed her, 'I bet little treasure will like this. Her moves are elegant, beautiful, and, most importantly, deadly. It seems like an original skill too~ A talented child for sure.'
With the twelve dryads and Kali's deadly dance, the tigerkin was completely overwhelmed. One arrow hit the back of his knee, another on his waist, and Kali's sword slashed his arm, producing painful screams from him.
When he was on the floor, almost immobile, she said, "Kill the Crane."
The man furiously shouted, "STOP!" However, the [Golden Crown] leaped upward and made a rising strike with her staff. The sickening sound of crushed bones was heard when the staff impacted under the chin, followed by its head exploding.
The tigerkin became furious, "Why did you kill it!? Do you know how much resources it costs to enslave one of those!?"
Kali saw that the [Azure Tiger] was almost done with her Treants. Therefore she decided to finish the match. She pierced the sword toward his forehead with the intent to kill. Tatyana appeared and stopped the lethal strike. "Kali wins! Not bad, Kali. Keep it up."
Kali smiled under the veil and bowed, "Thank you, senior."
Tatyana disappeared, and her voice resounded playfully, "So serious~."
Kali looked toward the still shouting tigerkin and said, "I hate people enslaving others and using them as disposable pieces. You already have an entry slot, was making your Crane go through all those attacks even necessary?"
The tigerkin cursed and said, "That is my problem! Why did you kill it when you had already won!? I wouldn't mind if it happened during the battle, but you clearly did it on purpose to fuck me over!"
Kali turned and said while leaving, "That's right, I did it on purpose. I rather kill it than let you use it as materials for the next ritual. I hope you go broke and live in misery."
As she said, Kali's reason for killing it was not letting use it as material for the ritual. Since it normally uses other living beasts as a sacrifice. That wounded Crane was the perfect material. She didn't mind if it was right or wrong; she followed her beliefs and didn't have any regrets.
More curses followed that statement. "I'm going to kill all your family and rape your loved ones!"
Kali stopped and turned toward him. The veil covered her face, but a terrifying aura surrounded her, similar to the wrath of nature itself.
She advanced and went beside him while hearing him curse. "What the fuck do you want!? You are lucky that participants can't be killed, or I would even-"
*STAB*
"[Parasite Roots]."
"GRAAAH!!!" He swung his fist toward Kali, but the [Golden Crown] blocked it with her staff, then she spun it once and tapped the ground. Roots grew from his feet and coiled around his body, immobilizing him.
Kali's voice was bone-chilling cold as she said, "You are lucky I want to advance in the tournament, or your life would have been forfeited."
The tigerkin couldn't answer since the parasitic roots damaged his insides badly. Moreover, Kali used her medical knowledge to damage the most painful spots.
She continued messing with his insides until the man fainted because of the pain. She took out her sword and left. Tatyana appeared with Ying Yue after she left and chuckled, "How troublesome, little Kali, this also counts as decalcification, but… something entered my eyes, and I couldn't see what happened. His injuries are obviously because of the battle. He also isn't dead… Well, she can pass, right? Ying Yue?"
Ying Yue rolled her beautiful eyes and said monotonously, "Yes, my empress who has even destroyed all life in a continent has been blinded by a dust mote."
Tatyana looked at Ying Yue and said, "You dropped quite a big bomb with that beautiful mouth of yours, huh?"
Ying Yue looked confused, "Aren't only the two of us here?"
Tatyana sighed, "Well, you are not wrong… Let's go to send Angel where Evelyn is. The cutie has given her all, but a level eight cultivator is still too strong."
"My Empress is right. However, she was able to damage him quite badly. All of the princess's mates are very talented."
"They are, but it is also true that the dual cultivation with Yasenia purifies their energy and makes them stronger. Even if the effects aren't immediate, they have been piling up these months, and they are beginning to show."
Ying Yue asked, surprised, "Is it doing so much good for them?"
Tatyana nodded, "Yes, they can fight two levels above what they could have fought without Yasenia's 'nourishment.'"
Ying Yue frowned, "That is dangerous; if dual cultivation sects know of it, they will try to get her without minding the consequences."
Tatyana nodded, "Andrea has already talked with them about it. She is quite responsible for everything surrounding Yasenia."
Ying Yue nodded in praise.
While they spoke about Andrea, the woman was reaching her next area. It was filled with ruined buildings, some tall, others completely in debris, and other almost intact. The location was wide, and, like any other city, there were places devoid of buildings. 'Let's see who am I against….'
On the other side, a level nine dragon-man appeared. Unlike Yasenia, he had horns, wings, and scales surrounding his neck. The scales were red, matching his eye and hair color, and he was as tall as Andrea.
He carried a giant white club made of bone material and carvings all over its length. He also had black armor covering his body, with a place in the back to pass his one-meter-long red tail and wings.
Andrea raised her eyebrow, 'A dragon-man! Should I put Tatyana's advice to use?'
Andrea laughed as he looked at him. The Dragon-man frowned, "What are you laughing at?"
"I was thinking about my lover, who is a dragoness."
The man's interest piqued, "Are you talking about Lady Yasenia?"
Andrea's plan crumbled, 'I can't taunt and insult you if you are so respectful toward my dragoness!'
She shook her head and decided to go for the honorable battle, "More than knowing her… I'm one of her mates. My name is Andrea."
The man's eyes shone in reverence and bowed, "It will be a pleasure fighting with Lady Andrea! My name is Argon! A proud [Fire Dragon-man]. However, might I say something disrespectful?"
Andrea nodded, and the man said, "I have observed that Lady Yasenia likes females. Although I don't want to get in the way of Lady Yasenia's happiness, I hope you convince her to find a male to continue her bloodline in the future. A bloodline of the level of a superior dragoness like Lady Yasenia should be spread!"
The announcer's voice started the countdown, but neither of them moved. From their little conversation, Andrea trusted this dragon-man's character. Andrea asked with a raised eyebrow, "Do you consider yourself worthy?"