"Who spoke? What was the power just now?" asked the woman before Arthur, frightened as she went back to unbutton the top of her pajamas.


    "What do you think?"


    The woman shook her head, having no idea who and where the voice yelling at her hade from. Arthur smiled, having been saved from the woman''s temptation by Aerith''s anger.


    "Anyway, I''ll give you another gift. Just tell me what you need, and I''ll give it to you," the woman said.


    Arthur was silent, not giving any response, either nodding or denying it by shaking his head. Winning or losing was another matter; Arthur needed to think about Nathan''s ability.


    "How?" the woman asked, wanting to get Arthur''s confirmation.


    The man smiled, rising from his bed as he approached the woman. He was d Nathan''s aide hade to visit him, but it waste, and it was not good for a woman to be in a man''s room for so long.


    The door to the house opened, Arthur invited the woman to step away from the guest house. To his surprise, another door behind Arthur opened, showing the figure of Miki, who was disturbed in her sleep due to active magic fluctuations.


    "I feel a huge active magic fluctuation. What''s happening?" asked Miki, curious with a half-sleepy face.


    "That''s me trying out my new magic. You may go to sleep, Miki."


    Miki cleared her throat, her right hand raised to cover her gaping mouth asionally, yawning often. The Kitsune woman stepped inside and closed the door, Arthur could breathe a sigh of relief.


    "Looks like a lot of Sky Sword members will be watching tomorrow''s practice," Arthur muttered as he stepped back into his room.


    He closed the door and locked it securely. Arthury on the bed with his eyes upward, staring at the bedroom ceiling.


    ''The raid will open in three or four days; it wouldn''t hurt to use my best strength in tomorrow''s practice,'' Arthur said.


    ''No! You''d better save your strength; don''t pull out all your aces,'' countered Aerith.


    When Arthur''s room waspletely quiet, a maroon light mixed with purple emerged and flew from Arthur''s forehead. The light stopped hovering right above Arthur''s body.


    The purple-maroon light changed its shape to its original form, and the figure of Aerith was present above Arthur''s body, not making Arthur surprised or frightened.@@novelbin@@


    Arthur smiled. He reached forward to stroke Aerith''s cheek, which felt soft and white.


    "Did you miss me, Aaron?" asked Aerith, speaking softly and tenderly.


    Aaron nodded. His eyes moved from looking into Aerith''s eyes to looking down at her beautiful breasts —Aaron''s most favorite. Aaron''s hands tried to reach heaven, but Aerith didn''t mind.


    "Ignore her. You have me, Aaron," Aerith said, brushing Aaron''s lips gently and warmly.


    "I know. I don''t need anything else. All I need is you."


    Aaron held Aerith''s body and let hery on her back on the bed. Aerith''s face was blushing bright red, her pupils dted with her arms out to the sides, exposing her body, ready to be exploited by Aaron.


    The man released his magic light upwards, the purple magic spread and stuck to every corner of the ce, making the room seem soundproof.


    "You can scream all you want, Aerith."


    "Do it. Give all your love to me tonight, Aaron."


    ***


    The next day.


    The practice field of the 14th Sky Sword Base.


    Arthur had already prepared himself for the practice this time. The woman who came to Arthurst night hade again, not to offer her body but to lead their way to the practice ground.


    ''Her attitude is amazing. Last night, she acted like a slut. Now, she''s acting like a knight in shining armor,'' Arthur said, squinting at the woman.


    She said that 150 Sky Sword members woulde to watch the practice. They had rarely seen their captain fight before, so it was natural that they would be interested in this practice.


    People started talking about Arthur, the man from the 13th squad who managed to climb the floor all the way to the 14th floor.


    Not only that, but they also talked about Arthur and the 13th squad getting a mandate letter from Andrew.


    Written in the mandate letter, they were special envoys sent by the 10th Sky Sword branch to ascend the floor.


    The power of the mandate letter was great, which was why every Sky Sword base on every floor had to give special favor to them.


    From a distance, Arthur could hear themotion echoing before him. There was a field with a tiled base.


    The field felt higher than the average ground around it. Arthur thought it was more of a stage than a practice field.


    In the surrounding area, dozens of Sky Sword members sat in the stands to watch the practice.


    They apuded when Arthur arrived at the field. Nathan was already on the field, standing tall with his eyes closed.


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    The woman informed Nathan of Arthur''s arrival. Nathan opened his eyes and saw Arthur on the same field as him. He nodded in agreement, pleased that Arthur hade.


    "Are you afraid?" asked Nathan.


    Nathan''s right hand pulled a steel sword from its sheath. One pull of the sword caused electricity to spark in the arena. Arthur squinted as he felt a change in the energy of the lightning strikes.


    ''Did he just do some energy maniption?'' asked Arthur, curious.


    Not to be outdone, Arthur summoned purple magic in his hand and manipted it into a whip, an unfamiliar weapon for sure.


    ''Unusual energy density. I''ve seen energy like this before. He''s a Dark Element user,'' Nathan exined, staring intently at the purple magic in Arthur''s hand.


    A man was refereeing the exercise. When a handkerchief fell to the floor, Nathan and Arthur darted quickly forward and attacked each other.


    CLING!


    Although Arthur''s weapon was notpletely steel, when it shed with Nathan''s sword, both made their own sound, the distinctive sound of metal shing.


    Thanks to the purple whip that seemed flexible to Arthur, he couldnd light strikes on Nathan''s body. Nathan sensed Arthur''s attack was effective. He jumped back and sheathed his sword.


    Arthur did the same, still activating his hand''s purple magic of weapon maniption. Arthur''s eyes stared focused ahead, wanting to know what Nathan was doing.


    Nathan stretched his hand forward, starting to use his elemental magic ability. He released three medium-sized fireballs ahead. Arthur was cautious.


    His hand changed from a purple magic whip to a protective magic wall. Just when he thought Nathan''s fireball attack would be blocked by his magic, Arthur gasped as three fireballs turned into lightning strikes.


    "What? Is this what they call energy maniption?" asked Arthur.


    Three lightning arrows shed with Arthur''s magic wall, the man felt the strong power of Nathan, even though it was just three ordinary lightning arrows.


    ''How strong is he actually?" asked Arthur.


    "Explode!" said Nathan, again turning the three lightning arrows into fireballs, creating an explosion and soaring ck smoke.


    People apuded. They had expected that Nathan would win easily over Arthur. Some of them even gave a standing ovation.


    "Did he lose already?" asked Nathan''sdy aide.


    "Arthur can''t have lost that easily. It seems Nathan has given him something exciting to do."


    Arthur swung his arms aside, clearing away the ck smoke to let people see he was surviving. The other Sky Sword members were shocked, stopping their apuse as they pointed to the sky.


    The man was flying using his talent. Nathan smiled andughed, feeling more challenged by Arthur.


    "Looks like you''re getting serious this time, Arthur."


    "Sure, you''re a worthy opponent for me."