The battle began in a way the goddess never expected. Linggis, with his signature deadpan expression, kicked the remaining coffee from his cup toward the goddess' face. The black liquid shot forward with surprising speed, forcing the goddess to reflexively raise her sword to block it. But the coffee was just a distraction.
"You're cheating, Linggis!" the goddess shouted angrily.
Linggis didn't reply. In an instant, his body shot forward at lightning speed. His cane, which initially appeared to be a simple walking aid, transformed into a sharp and flexible weapon resembling a gleaming metal whip.
"My name is Linggis Joe," he said in a low voice while twirling the cane in the air. "And I don't play by your rules."
The cane lashed out toward the goddess like a venomous snake, striking with incredible precision. But the goddess was no ordinary opponent. With graceful movements, she swung her massive sword to cut through Linggis' attack. The clash of metal created dazzling sparks.
"You think I'll lose to a cheap trick like that?" the goddess asked, her eyes shining with determination.
"No, but I'm sure you're not used to fighting someone like me," Linggis replied, his body moving swiftly like a shadow, almost impossible to follow with the naked eye.
In the midst of Linggis' intense attacks, the goddess revealed her true power. A magical circle appeared beneath her feet, and in an instant, the area around them transformed into a vast ocean reflecting the moonlight. Linggis suddenly felt as though he was floating in midair.
"You know, Linggis? I wanted to prove that I'm your equal. But I forgot to tell you one thing," the goddess said with a sly smile. "I don't play to win. I play to destroy you."
With one slash of her sword, a massive wave of magical energy formed, surging toward Linggis. But instead of panicking, Linggis grinned. He slammed his cane into the "ground" beneath him, creating an explosion of energy that shattered the magical wave.
"Oh, so you're serious. Good," he said in a relaxed tone, though his gaze turned sharp like a predator. In an instant, he was behind the goddess, his sharp cane slashing toward her neck.
But the goddess was faster. In a movement that was almost like a dance, she spun and deflected Linggis' attack with the flat side of her sword. "You're too slow, Joe," she taunted.
The battle turned into a series of breathtaking moves. Linggis moved like a shadow, fast and unpredictable, while the goddess wielded incredible magical power and swordsmanship. Though Linggis clearly excelled in speed, the goddess' overpowering strength made him seem like a toy in the hands of a giant.
However, every time the goddess thought she had cornered Linggis, he always found a way to counterattack. His skill in utilizing the environment and creating distractions frustrated the goddess.
"You're really stubborn, aren't you?" the goddess shouted, gathering a massive amount of energy in her sword. "Fine, I'll end this now!"
"Go ahead and try," Linggis replied, this time with a serious tone. He twirled his cane once more, and black lightning-like energy began to envelop his weapon. "But remember, I'm not a character that dies easily, Goddess."
Their duel raged on, with power and strategy clashing fiercely. Linggis might have seemed at a disadvantage in terms of raw power, but his intelligence in battle made it impossible for the goddess to underestimate him.