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Linilla was sitting, in front of a mirror, observing herself carefully... her armor perfectly clean, as well as her battle suit, swinging her short swords she steeled herself.
After all, unlike demons, she was now going to face humans, beings just like her with similar thoughts and emotions.
She has to hurt them, but in the same way they will hurt her.
Besides there are people who trust her, she couldn't afford to lose.
-Are you ready, Linilla? -asked Natsuru with a half smile on her face, giving courage to the girl who only nodded happily, because she can't let down the people who put their trust in her.
Besides winning this is to free herself from any ties with the kingdom so she will finally be free from any false accusations towards her, besides paying the Duke of Windey.
-Of course! -Linilla fervently affirmed as she stood up and went straight to the door but before she stopped to look sideways with that characteristic smile of hers, "You'll see, I'll bring victory!
Natsuru opened her eyes slightly surprised by the girl's statement, and a soft smile appeared on her face.
-We'll see about that," commented Natsuru observing how Linilla ended up leaving through the door, he simply ended up leaving the place towards a VIP stage, where the other heroes were, there were a total of 7 heroes including him, among those two he recognized perfectly.
Zelia Kaminy and Mayasha Von Hainsffer.
But another heroine quickly jumped towards Natsuru with the intention of hugging him, but he quickly dodged it with a quizzical look.
-Natsuru! -declares the girl with a big smile while holding a bow in her hands, completely happy to see the boy she likes.
Natsuru for her part can barely stand her, so she simply sighs -you again, Celia -the Heroine of the Bow, one of the 7 heroes known on the continent, has a supernatural potential with bow handling, and has a special fascination for the Duke of Windey.
After all, when she was a young heroine on trial, he saved her from a terrible fate against a demon, of Necromancer level, so she was fascinated by him.
Unfortunately for her, the Duke never paid her any such attention.
The Duke sat down, while elegantly arranging his suit, and watched with a sharp gaze as the few supporters of the royal family, as a whole... were nervous.
Of course after all, if Linilla finally awakens her royal powers, the empire won't be able to look away from the goddess' container.
And if the Menchester empire gets involved, this kingdom was finished.
So it was no surprise that he felt the gaze of Princess Sarasha, after all, the royal family desperately needed to have the Duke of Windey on their side.
-Hump, do these idiots think I'm still on their side? said the Duke as he quietly settled down, the spear-wielding hero simply keeping quiet.
"Come on Linilla... overcome your limits and finally wake up" thought Natsuru with a sharp glare.
Meanwhile in the arena were all the heroes being tested, among those Linilla who was showing off her well trained figure through her battle suit, she had a serious look assessing the level of the people around her.
and...
She felt too disappointed.
"Is the spiritual level too poor? Or can they suppress their powers like me?" despite the disappointment she was thinking positively, maybe the people around her have the aura suppression ability she learned in her training.
Some of the other candidates, were looking at the blonde haired girl with hungry and lustful eyes, she didn't look bad at all they could play with her in the process, while the few female candidates were jealous about it.
Did that girl come to show off her figure?
Zelia for her part approved the design of her costume, she always excelled in speed and flexibility, so a flexible and adaptable costume for her was convenient, she could see that the Duke seemed to remember things unconsciously, and to think that only Linilla would have the chance to become a Duchess so easily.
Mayasha only sighed in boredom, the heroes were again negligent to their disciples, though the Duke... was analytically seeing Linilla Erder.
And he could sense danger.
His malevolent aura wanted to pull away from that woman with all his might, as if she was a divine entity and he could realize that she was the anomaly he was waiting for so long.
So a smile was marked on his dark cherry colored lips.
"Looks like this year will be interesting" Mayasha thought with a cocky smile on her face.
Linilla simply stretched while waiting for the candidates to be separated, while that commentator spoke to all the spectators, he looked sideways at the person who would touch him, a boy who seemed to have mastery of his spear.
He looked captivated at this girl, although he had no chance with his teacher, maybe if he impressed this girl, at least he would have the opportunity to have a girlfriend.
So he would go all out but he wouldn't hurt her, he didn't want to harm her.
-The first confrontation will be between Jhonan Mortz and Linilla Erder," shouted the commentator, making the other finalists watch expectantly this encounter.
And among the stands was an adult woman who had many jewels on her body and wore a crown on her head, to show her power.
That woman was seriously watching this stupid power contest.
Although she seemed to be attracted to that blonde woman.
-Come on honey, if you give up, we could meet up later," said Jhonan with a slightly arrogant smile on his face.
But Linilla didn't even flinch, she only took possession of her short weapons, her sky blue eyes started to glow golden, she felt chains around her, she knew perfectly well why.
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Linilla was observing all her serious aura, a large dense amount of golden aura surrounded her, in front of her was Zelia serious.
-Spiritual power is more in the realm of aura, so it is not capable of physically harming humans, after all it is designed to harm spiritual entities such as demons, therefore to harm humans with spiritual power spiritual weapons are used where to condescend that energy becomes prana, in the case of magicians, it becomes magic -explained Zelia calmly every concept of this world.
Linilla only nodded understanding the matter.
-On the other hand, the two of us use only divine energy that is capable of hurting and molding both the soul and the body, therefore if we do not measure our amount of divine power we are capable of killing a person, power used directly by the gods, the mark that we are divine entities, Linilla," Zelia explained while showing her divine aura.
Linilla looked seriously at her fists which were condescated in that yellow aura like the sun.
Natsuru on the other hand just watched attentively, with a serious look on his face.
-You must learn to contain that divine energy in you to put yourself at the level of the spiritual energy, a human style to use the divine powers, after all the spiritual power needs to force an invisible force with your aura, in this case you need control," Zelia continued explaining calmly.
-A human style to use the divine power of a god," Linilla pronounced to herself, her soul was throbbing because she knew perfectly well what method she could use, it was as if that Dejavu was more extensive than she understood.
And she trusted no one better than her instinct.
So closing her eyes she commented, "I think I have a basic idea....
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Jhonan was slightly intimidated by those golden eyes that radiated strength of the girl, so by instinct he launched himself to attack the girl with his spear, but she dodged as easily as if she was dancing, several ethereal forms of her were present in the place.
Everyone in the stands was surprised, Natsuru who did not show his facets, this time it was difficult to hide how amazed and excited he was.
That older woman's eyes widened as she detected divine power coming out of the girl, but unlike that time with the Heroine of lightning, Zelia Kaminy, this time she was sure.
This time she was sure.
Her face distorted into a grotesque, cumbersome smile that gave the King of Winchester the creeps.
Linilla with great calm, and having gripped her two handguns, moved them at an abnormal speed making it impossible for anyone to observe what she did and at what moment she was behind the subject.
Jhonan, without understanding what was happening, stopped his step and when he was about to turn towards Linilla, to attack her again with his spear, everyone watched in amazement as the spear full of spiritual energy broke into pieces and slowly fell to the ground.
-Cosmic Flux - Second Fang] - as he pronounced those words the cuts were finally visible causing large amounts of blood to flow out of the subject, alarming him.
He had made three precise and direct cuts, but with the intention of hurting him but not killing him.
If so...
His head would have long since been on the ground, sliced off.
Jhonan at this moment was completely frightened...
He was scared of this girl that through the darkness of her tresses only two golden bulbs were observed accompanied by an illuminated smile of the same color.
The man, gripped by fear, imbued all his spiritual energy in the destroyed weapon forming a similar one but of the same energy, going to kill the monster girl as he thought she was.
But Linilla peacefully positioned her legs to accommodate her center of mass, while picking up her short weapons which were illuminated with yellow energy.
Sighing, she let it be just for a moment.
Just for a moment.
Break his chains.
-Cosmic Flux - Fourth Fang] - shouted Linilla full and brimming with that energy, he stepped hard and took off in a yellow flow that slid across the arena, staying right on the opposite side to where the opponent was going.
Jhonan, who was surprised, only dropped his weapon, which was destroyed in pieces, feeling how his magic veins, those pathways, were destroyed in pieces.
Making him fall to the ground unconscious.
Everyone was stunned at this, that girl who seemed to radiate no energy at all, gave a complete beating to a seemingly competent hero.
But Linilla on the other hand had a dejected look on her face, she was bored....
She won by sheer power, but she wanted a worthy battle to show off all her skills and show off her hard work, but it looks like this will be a little easier than it looks.
-THE WINNER IS LINILLA ERDER, STUDENT OF THE DUKE OF WINDEY: NATSURU VON WINDEY! -shouted the commentator full of joy, and the normal people when they found out which affiliation Linilla belonged to seemed to applaud even louder, indeed some commented that she might be that rumored future Duchess.
"That damned and cunning Duke" thought that woman while looking at the Duke, if the bastard marries the one who could be the receptacle of the goddess of souls, the empire would do anything to have her on its side, and that includes whatever he wishes.
Was he finally planning to rebel against the negligent and stupid royal family?
The royal family on the other hand, knew they were doomed, finally Linilla Erder showed her sharp teeth, the Duke's perfect Trojan horse.
The only ingredient needed to cause disaster in the kingdom of Winchester.
As one of the participants looked seriously at the blonde girl.
"Well done, Linilla" thought Zelia with a smile on her face, finally the changes were going to begin.
This tournament will shake the foundations of this continent....