"What's happened?" Laura asked anxiously as she saw Princess Jean, her face flushing red as she quickly got off Eddie's back. Noticing Princess Jean's anxious expression, Laura became alarmed and quickly inquired about the situation.
"There are two demon-level fallen warriors on the ruins of the Hope Wasteland, ready to ambush us. We have to leave now!" Princess Jean rushed over.
In less than a second, she took out a silver-scroll with golden patterns, opening a large group teleportation portal.
She hurriedly pulled Eddie and Laura towards the portal, intending to escape the dangerous situation.
Just as they were about to enter the portal, Eddie made his move.
His left hand wielded the Moon Blade, slashing towards the portal with a sky-high purple flame, while his right hand held the Golden Dragon-Slaying Dagger, slowly but irresistibly stabbing into Princess Jean's back. The portal shattered with a loud boom. After mastering the positive power of fire energy, Eddie's purple flame had increased tenfold in strength, easily destroying the previously indestructible portal.
At the same time, the dagger pierced Princess Jean's back.
The Dragon-Slaying Dagger went through her back, protruding from her chest... Not only Princess Jean, but even Laura was in utter shock.
Why would Eddie kill Princess Jean?
Was it because she had kicked him earlier, and he wanted revenge?
Princess Jean let out a painful scream, collapsing to the ground, clutching her bleeding chest in agony, her eyes filled with confusion, as if asking Eddie why he did this.
"What are you doing?" Laura was furious. "She kicked you, at most you could slap her back, or strip her clothes and spank her, but why kill her? People aren't life-guarding beasts; once dead, they can't be brought back to life..." Laura knew Eddie must have a reason, but she was still very angry. Killing Princess Jean without a word was too ruthless! "Actually, I can explain, just give me a moment!" Eddie said with a bright, sunny smile, looking as if he had just enjoyed a spring breeze, his smile revealing his white teeth.
"Speak," Laura said, suppressing her anger, ready to bite him to death if he couldn't give a valid reason. "She's a fake Princess Jean!" Eddie stated confidently.
"A fake?" Laura's heart filled with doubt.
"I'm not, I'm not, please, save me..." Princess Jean stretched out her bloodied hand, struggling and begging Laura for help.
"Do you know how many flaws you have? Too many, and ever since the incident with the real and fake Maximus Seniors, I've been looking for clues. The same tricks don't work on me," Eddie confidently walked up to the fake Princess Jean, shrugging. "Even though you look exactly like Princess Jean, in front of me, you're just a clown full of flaws!"
"What did I do wrong?" the fake Princess Jean suddenly stood up, coughing softly. The hole in her chest quickly shrank and healed, but the demonic heart shattered by Eddie's dagger couldn't be restored, causing her immense pain.
"First, Princess Jean has a special talent in her eyesight, which you completely lack; second, she harbors a powerful mysterious beast within her, which you don't have; third, Princess Jean's running habit is different. She drags her giant sword, not carrying it like you. Her strikes are much quicker and more powerful," Eddie explained with a casual smile, leaving the fake Princess Jean almost dumbfounded by the number of flaws.
"I did find it a bit strange, but I didn't notice the sword-holding posture was off," Laura admitted, impressed by Eddie's attentiveness.
"Princess Jean rarely runs with her sword in hand because she prefers surprise attacks from her sheath," Eddie added another point.
"Yes, that's right," Laura nodded in agreement.
"Couldn't she have drawn her sword for a battle?" the fake Princess Jean couldn't believe that unsheathing her sword was also a mistake.
"Of course, but you don't understand her specific technique after drawing the sword. Her scabbard moves incredibly fast from the left shoulder to the right, using both hands to swing the sword. Yours is still on the left, which doesn't match Princess Jean's habit. A habit formed since childhood usually doesn't change," Eddie said with a cold laugh.
The fake Princess Jean was unaware of the real Princess Jean's scabbard-moving detail.
"Another crucial flaw is that Princess Jean's sword is a weapon, while yours is a beast transformed into a sword. Since it's a beast, it has a mental connection with you, unlike Princess Jean's sword, which merely enhances her fighting ability," Eddie pointed out, and the fake Princess Jean's sword turned into a silver giant python.
"Any more flaws?" the fake Princess Jean seemed ready to attack.
"Of course," Eddie replied, leaving Laura astonished.
In less than half a minute, Eddie had found so many flaws?
The fake Princess Jean, pushed to her limit, glared at Eddie and sneered, "What other flaws did you see?"
Eddie shrugged nonchalantly, his smile as breezy as a gentle wind, almost irresistibly inviting a punch. "There's one flaw you could never imitate about Princess Jean, making you instantly recognizable no matter how well you disguise yourself. The biggest, most fatal flaw is that you're not a virgin. You don't have Princess Jean's subtle virgin scent... Next time you try to deceive me, maybe check how good my nose is first?" Laura, initially intrigued by Eddie's performance, blushed with a mix of admiration and embarrassment at his last point, playfully punching him.
The fake Princess Jean's face darkened with anger and resentment. "Done talking? Because now, you can die!"
She threw something – a small black ball that exploded with a 'pop' at Eddie and Laura's feet, spreading a dark mist and creating a grim, blackened space. The fake Princess Jean vanished, leaving only Eddie and Laura.
Laura was about to summon her grimoire when she realized her spiritual energy was blocked. Startled, she exclaimed, "The Corruption Sphere! This is a demonic tool meant to disrupt summoning! Normally it's dark green, but they cleverly disguised it. How cunning!"
A snake silently descended from above, menacingly striking towards Laura's head. Eddie swiftly sliced it with his blade, and it instantly transformed back into a giant sword. The clash of weapons resounded loudly.
Meanwhile, in the darkness, the fake Princess Jean, with a spider poison ring on her hand, lunged at Laura's back.
A protective shield rapidly expanded around Laura, sending the fake Princess Jean flying.
Holding her grimoire, Laura taunted, "Did you really think I wouldn't have a way to counter a Corruption Sphere? Such a small trick, and you thought you could assassinate us with just that."
"By myself, perhaps not enough. But when the two demon-level fighters realize their plan has failed, they'll be here in a minute. Then, you'll both die with nowhere to run. Do you know how they'll kill you? They won't let you die easily; they'll torture you for days. Let's see if you can still be so smug and arrogant then," the fake Princess Jean's cold laughter echoed from the darkness, appearing and disappearing unpredictably.
"Really? But it won't take a minute to end this fight – just ten seconds!"
Eddie darted to the left.