Timeless Assassin

(The isolated forest, Leo versus Su Pei)

Once Leo realized that there were no obvious openings in Su Pei's fighting style, he began to experiment and innovate, as he tapped into his vast arsenal of skill moves.

[Astral Hook Bind]

[StormFlash Traverse]

First using Astral Hook Bind to restrict Su Pei's foot movements, Leo then coupled it up with StormFlash Traverse to deliver a few high speed slashes, however, Su Pei responded with a skill move of his own, as he used [Mist Form] to slip out of all those attacks.

*Slash*

*Slash*

*Slash*

In the end, Leo hit nothing but the mist form of Su Pei's body, as the real Su Pei instead materialized from over his head.

*Block*

*Stumble*

Realizing that a red line of intent connected his temple, Leo noticed Su Pei's sudden descent at the last possible second, which he barely blocked before staggering backwards.

*Block*

*Block*

*Block*

Somehow blocking the follow up attacks while being down on one knee, Leo teleported out of this tough spot using [Blade Switch].

*Swoosh*

*CLANG*

Now with their positions reversed, and him being the one slashing down from above, Leo managed to make Su Pei stagger backwards, however, even then, no obvious red spots formed on his body, showing that even off balance, there were no openings left to exploit on the Monarch.

'The Fuck? How does he not have a single opening? Even Charles shows one or two once in a while…..'

Leo wondered, not knowing that tactical defence was Su Pei's speciality.

Just like Versatility was Dupravel's speciality.

And overwhelming power and dominance was Charles's speciality.

Tactical Defence was Su Pei's strong suit, and in that regard, he was the very best.

Su Pei narrowed his eyes as he adjusted his grip on the hilt of his blade, the subtle shift in posture signalling a change in tempo that only a true warrior could sense.

"This next move," he said calmly, "will be a little more serious."

*Whirl*

With a gentle spin, his figure blurred into motion as Su Pei activated his next skill, [Phantom Dash].

Immediately his silhouette split into three flickering afterimages, each darting around Leo in a perfect triangular formation.

*Step*

*Flick*

*Slash*

Each image lunged from a different direction, their blades coordinated to strike in perfect unison, forming a cage of steel and feints aimed to test not only Leo's speed, but also his composure under chaos.

*Shua*

*Shua*

*Shua*

But Leo remained eerily calm.

His eyes didn't chase the fakes, he simply waited, and trusted [Absolute Vision] to guide him true.

At the last possible moment, he side-stepped smoothly to the left and tilted his torso ever so slightly, narrowly dodging the real Su Pei's blade that came from behind, the illusions collapsing the moment he evaded.

"Tch," Su Pei smirked, mildly impressed.

"Then take this—"

The air around him thickened as he raised his sword, pouring mana into a new technique, [Drifting Crescent], which was a high-speed rotational slash that carried the momentum of a typhoon and the sharpness of condensed mana arcs, designed to cleave through defensive barriers and split enemies in half before they could blink.

But this time, Leo didn't dodge.

Instead, his eyes sharpened, body lowered, and mana surged through his arms as he activated—

[Full Counter]

*FZZZTTT*

A ripple of blue energy burst from his dagger the moment Su Pei's strike made contact, causing a thunderclap of raw force to explode outward as the rotational energy was absorbed, reversed, and amplified twofold.

*BOOM*

The counterattack fired back instantly, a mirror of Su Pei's own attack, but faster, sharper, and undeniably lethal.

*CLANG*

Su Pei's blade came up just in time to block it, yet even with his immense reflexes, he felt the crushing weight of the returned blow send a jolt through his wrist and shoulder, forcing him to plant one foot back into the earth to avoid being blown away.

Cracks splintered beneath his boots as a gust of wind tore through the clearing.

And then… silence.

Su Pei blinked, his mind slowly catching up to what just happened.

His fingers ached.

His muscles were taut.

And most importantly—

He'd accidentally used Transcendent-tier strength just now to hold his ground.

"…Hah," he exhaled softly, before slowly lowering his blade.

A light chuckle escaped his lips as he stared at Leo, then glanced down at his own trembling palm.

"I accidentally tapped into Transcendent Tier strength and violated the terms of our battle….. You win."

He said honestly, before sheathing his sword in one slow, reverent motion, as Leo was left confused by how abruptly it all ended.

"Eh? I won?" Leo asked, slightly unwilling to take the easy win, as he now felt his blood roaring for a tough fight.

However, as he saw Su Pei drop his sword and tilt his head towards the sky, he understood that perhaps their rematch would have to wait until another day.

"You really are something else, Leo Skyshard," he murmured, more to the heavens than to Leo himself.

"I've never seen a more complete fighter than you at the Grandmaster Tier. If you have a foundation so stable.... Maybe, just maybe, you can go all the way to becoming a God." He muttered, before finally looking into Leo's eyes, as he dropped to one knee.

"I have wasted a majority of my life pledging my loyalty to a clan that never wanted me to be a part of it.

And now, I'm willing to pledge my loyalty to you.

My only request in return is that, 1) I be treated with respect befitting a Monarch.

And 2) I, be given a chance to leave a mark of my legacy on the universe.

The name Su Pei has vanished from recent universal memory.

I hope, after joining you, everyone is soon reminded of who I am." Su Pei requested, as Dupravel brought out the items necessary to sign a soul contract.

"Very well, those terms are acceptable to me—" Leo said, as he began signing the soul contract procedure.