The Moonlight Swordsman

Chapter 368 Rest

Maximine, unable to leave the watery cage, thrashed and struggled. His efforts became increasingly urgent, but Aizel remained unmoved and unyielding, never giving him so much as a crack.

Aizel reacted as swiftly and accurately as a bolt of lightning. He pulled back his two blades, which were now glowing with intense heat. Maximine's chest was slashed open in an instant, and the blades' blazing energy sank into his body.

"You had your fun blud," Aizel said. 

In a display of power that could rival the gods of war themselves, Aizel unleashed a devastating strike.

With surgical precision, his twin blades slashed into Maximine's chest and body.

A decisive action that spared no effort or regret instantly ended the dark elf's life. 

*Phew*

[Good work, Master. Now let's take a break]

Umm, I hope she can take care of the other guy."

*****

Seraphine squared off against the powerful light elf mage, Danielle, and their elemental battles set the battlefield ablaze.

Their intense duel shattered the tranquility of the freezing woodland, which was punctuated by deafening booms. 

Seraphine brandished her shining spear, the icy sheen around it attesting to her mastery of water and ice. In contrast, Danielle wielded a glowing blade that pulsed with a brilliant white light.

Their clash continued with a swift exchange of strikes.

Seraphine gracefully whirled her spear, creating icy crescents that she hurled towards Danielle.

He parried each attack with precision, his sword emitting dazzling beams of light that severed the ice projectiles mid-flight. 

He deftly sidestepped the frigid assault, his robe flapping behind him like a flag of triumph.

"Is this the best you can offer?" Danielle taunted with a smirk as he parried another of Seraphine's attacks.

"You're too predictable, my dear princess."

Seraphine remained silent instead of responding. 

With a graceful leap, Seraphine propelled herself into the air. 

A blue radiance emanated from her spear as she called upon a brisk breeze that whipped about her.

Danielle watched in awe as Seraphine transformed into an ethereal being, her body partially fading into an icy mist.

The light mage blinked his eyes in bewilderment at the sudden change in events. In that split second, Seraphine made the most of her opportunity. 

She descended upon him, her partially invisible form making her almost impossible to track. 

Seraphine struck the spot where Danielle had been standing with the shining tip of her spear, but he had sprinted away, barely avoiding her assault.

As Danielle searched for Seraphine, he became more and more frustrated. With his sword held aloft, he focused his light magic on it.

A dazzling light emanated from the blade, penetrating the forest cover to make out individual plants. The form of Seraphine, however, continued to fade in and out of sight.

"Let's see, how long will you continue to hide now?" he said. 

Danielle unleashed his unique light spell. 

His blade soaked up the light and grew brighter and brighter until it seemed like a tiny sun.

With a powerful swing, he sent a searing beam of light tearing through the frozen forest. 

The power raced forward, destroying everything in its path and leaving nothing but charred ground and smoking trees.

"ICY DOMAIN," Seeing the attack, Seraphine shouted.

She watched as the frigid hug of nature transformed into a cocoon for her protection. Frosty fortifications emerged, layer upon layer, encasing her in an ever-expanding fortress of ice and snow.

This impromptu sanctuary took shape, rising like a stalwart shield against Danielle's impending assault.

The ice shattered violently under Danielle's tremendous strike, but the barrier held.

Danielle's assault cast a bright radiance that briefly drowned out the forest. It went on almost for 4-5 minutes.

He thought he had defeated not only the scenery but also his opponent; therefore, he smiled triumphantly. But when the light faded, all he could see was the ruined landscape.

Then an eerie chill swept over him.

Danielle felt a growing sense of dread as he turned around.

Before him, a spear had pierced through his body, yet he couldn't sense or see anyone nearby. 

Gradually, an icy transformation overtook him, turning him into a frozen statue. Then, with a resounding shatter, he fractured into countless pieces.

As the invisibility effect waned, Seraphine revealed herself, her spear in her hand.

"I think you could have handled him without using Hazel's potion."

Seraphine shifted her attention to Aizel, who had just arrived on the battlefield.

"It might have taken some time and wasted my core energy," Seraphine replied.

The dimensional barrier started to dissipate, and Seraphine and Aizel soon found themselves back on the stage with Shoka.

"Give your winners a round of applause," Shoka's voice boomed.

"YEAH!!!...

"YEAH!!!...

"YEAH!!!...

"WAR GOD...

"WAR GOD...

"WAR GOD...

Seraphine and Aizel nodded to the spectators as they walked toward the balconies of their respective kingdoms.

"Nice work both of you," Zareena said with a proud look on her face.

Aizel went straight to where Daisy and Hazel were sitting on the couch.

"Good job, Softie," Hazel commented.

"Thnx Ginger," Aizel replied with a smile.

"Now we have a small break; after that, the 5 vs 5 team battle will start." Zareena interrupted them, informing everyone on her team.

"I can't wait to fight now," Raven murmured with a pissed voice.

Aizel, Hazel, and Daisy relaxed on the balcony; their spirits lifted after the intense battles. The cool breeze swept over them, carrying the scent of the nearby ocean.

The stars above provided a peaceful atmosphere for their chat.

Aizel leaned back, exhaling deeply, and said, "Well, it was quite a day. I hope the team battle also ends early."

Hazel chuckled and said," I never thought I'd see the day when I'd witness an invisible mage take down a light mage."

"Your potion did the job," Seraphine replied, joining them.

Daisy agreed, her eyes wide with wonder, and asked, "Speaking of potions, Hazel, do you have any more tricks up your sleeve?"

"Noooo.. I didn't have enough time to prepare more potions," Hazel replied.

After listening to everyone else chat for a while, Aquarian decided to join in.

"It's nice to see you all in good spirits. I hope it will stay that way."

Aizel glanced at Aquarian and said, "You seem deep in thought over there. It's not like you."

"I can't help but think about Edumond. His father, Xavior, showed no emotion at his son's defeat." Aquarian sighed.

Hazel furrowed her brow and said, "That was strange, now that you mention it. You'd think he'd be upset."

"Maybe it's a nobility thing. They're trained not to show weakness." Daisy replied.

"Or maybe he is a robot," Aizel said, chuckling.

"Robot.. What's that?" Hazel asked.

"Ummm.... I am sorry; it's just that they are nobles. What can you expect from them? They only care for themselves." Aizel answered.

"Oye, you guys, stop talking and eat something before the next match starts." Ashlyn interrupted them while stuffing her mouth with the food.

"Yeah, it seems you are enjoying the food a lot there," Aizel replied.

Everyone stood up. The table in the back was set with an assortment of delicious dishes, and their gaze was pulled to it.

The lavish spread immediately attracted Aizel's attention. As he got closer to the spread of delicious treats, his taste buds began to quiver with excitement. 

The first thing he noticed was a tray of wonderfully poached eggs, their golden yolks glistening.

A delectable scent, like a symphony of buttery richness, floated from them. The thought of a properly cooked egg made Aizel's mouth swim, and he reached for a plate to get one. 

He closed his eyes in awe as his teeth dug into the silky yolk, and a rush of rich flavor overwhelmed his senses.

"Damn, this is tasty."

Freshly made loaves of bread were displayed next to the eggs. Aizel tore off a piece of bread while it was still hot from the oven, and the crust crunched in an enticing way. 

There was a subtle sourdough flavor to the interior, and it was soft and chewy. He smeared on plenty of butter, enjoying the contrasting textures and flavors.

A considerable percentage of the meat on the table caught his attention. Marinated and cooked to perfection, there was monster meat. 

Smoky, charred meat aroma blended with fragrant herbs and spices. Aizel couldn't hold back and had to sample a piece. Tender and juicy, the meat was full of smoky umami that tingled on his tongue.

Man, the food here is far tastier than on Earth," Aizel thought.

Exotic cuts of meat, besides the monster's flesh, were waiting to be discovered. Meats from creatures he had never heard of had their own distinct tastes. 

He tried what may have been wyvern steak, which had been marinated in an acidic sauce that left a lingering zing in his mouth. The meat was unusually delicate, with a note of gameiness that betrayed its alien provenance.

Despite the hardships and battles they had to confront, this was a time of relief. Aizel enjoyed every mouthful, enjoying the delicious meal.