At this moment, Ailisi’s state of mind was in turmoil.
She couldn’t tell whether she wanted to make amends with him or reclaim him, including her true feelings toward Duente.
She felt Liweida was right, but at the same time, something felt off.
Ailisi demanded, “What do you mean by ‘you’re willing to bear everything for him’?”
Liweida replied calmly, “I don’t need to explain that to you. I refuse to answer.”
Ailisi laughed—a disdainful laugh.
She found Liweida ridiculous and said, “Don’t you think you look ugly like this? Like a clown with no self of your own. Do you want to become his accessory?”
Liweida sneered, “So what? You’re nothing but a loser, and I’ve beaten you fair and square right now. That’s a fact.”
Duente stayed silent.
He simply thought Ailisi was stubborn and still trying to evade reality.
Ailisi stopped smiling.
Her expression turned cold, just as icy as Duente’s, “In that case, from now on, we’re enemies.”
“Ha, you’re only realizing that now?”
“Liweida, we could have been friends.”
“Really? I was hoping you’d just disappear.”
Ailisi’s face was stern; Liweida kept smiling.
The atmosphere crackled with tension.
“Senior, can I kill her here?”
“Not recommended, because we’re on school grounds.”
“Duente, this is between her and me. Don’t interfere.”
Duente spread his hands, took a step back, and positioned Liweida in front of him.
He had no desire to meddle in a duel between two Gifted individuals.
Besides, Ailisi was currently in a state of calm.
Duente knew her too well.
Whenever she became calm, her combat power doubled.
At this moment, Ailisi had only recently acquired the Gifted Flames, but in her past life, she had already mastered all combat techniques.
She also knew Duente’s Mana Sword skill, though she wasn’t as proficient as him.
After all, she would only obtain the Holy Sword upon passing the Black Tower Trial.
“You’re lucky you didn’t face me at my peak. How about I let you have three moves?”
Ailisi condensed a pure Flame Greatsword—entirely composed of her mana, radiating pure flames—intense, scorching.
The air itself trembled restlessly from the heat, and space visibly distorted.
“No need, you coward. I have no intention of hiding anything from you. Let’s settle it in one blow.”
Smiling, Liweida summoned a black magic sword in her hand.
The entire blade—hilt, body, and guard—was wrapped in a layer of dark energy that devoured the surrounding space, no less impressive than the Flame Greatsword in Ailisi’s hand.
Liweida threw down the gauntlet and said, “You’d better take this seriously. My sword isn’t like that fragile mana shell in your hand that shatters on contact. If you can’t block it, you’ll die without a doubt.”
Ailisi showed no fear.
Gripping her sword with both hands, she said calmly, “I’ll show you the gap in our strength.”
The red-haired Chosen Hero versus the black-haired Demon Lord Candidate.
One had returned from a past life—though she had lost her power, she possessed formidable combat techniques.
The other was still hiding her true strength, her depth unreadable.
The duel was about to erupt.
Ailisi attacked first.
Using her Hero talent, she instantly closed the distance between herself and Liweida.
Liweida merely used an afterimage to flash behind Ailisi.
“It’s over.”
She thrust her sword, the black blade aimed straight at Ailisi’s lower back.
Relying on experience and superior physique, Ailisi sidestepped behind Liweida.
“You’re the one who’s over!”
Ailisi brought down the Flame Greatsword without mercy.
An arc of flame swept through, a semicircular trail of residual fire slashing across Liweida’s body.
Then Liweida’s figure vanished along with the residual flame before Ailisi’s eyes.
“Too slow.”
Liweida reappeared behind Ailisi.
This time, she struck directly at Ailisi’s neck.
“Too slow yourself!”
Ailisi blocked the black sword’s slash with her Flame Greatsword, but the impact felt wrong—too light.
The other side hadn’t put any real strength into it!
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Liweida appearing in front of her.
Instinctively, she activated her Flame Shield, blocking the thrust aimed at her chest.
The battle was incredibly fast.
Duente watched with great interest from the sidelines, as it had been a long time since he’d witnessed such an exciting fight.
In his past life, after he and Ailisi had ascended together as the world’s strongest, he had no more rivals.
In truth, even Ailisi wasn’t his match; he was the true World’s Strongest.
Thus, the current Ailisi stirred his memories.
In the past, he had trained like this with Ailisi—studying combat techniques and sparring together to grow stronger.
In fact, all of Ailisi’s skills had been honed together with Duente.
Duente recalled this not to dwell on the past.
But because he noticed something strange.
At this stage, Ailisi absolutely should not possess such powerful combat techniques.
Even with her Hero talent, Liweida’s attack speed was extremely fast, and her combination of combat skills and abilities was top-notch.
The current Ailisi shouldn’t have been able to withstand Liweida.
Duente had originally concluded that Ailisi was certain to lose this fight.
But reality deviated.
Liweida’s movements began to slow.
Her breathing became labored, and the mana clinging to her black sword shifted from stable to loose.
Although her attack frequency hadn’t decreased, she started leaving openings.
Ailisi seized the opportunity.
When Liweida used a clone thrust, Ailisi grabbed her real body, pinned her to the ground, and raised the Flame Greatsword with one hand, cleaving down at Liweida without mercy.
Duente flashed in, holding a Mana Light Sword formed from the Gifted Flames, blocking Ailisi’s Flame Greatsword.
“Enough, Ailisi. I’ve seen through your tricks.”
“Duente, I told you this has nothing to do with you!”
“Still playing dumb? Fine. If you won’t come clean, neither will I.”
“Let me kill her!”
Even pinned to the ground, Liweida showed no weakness.
She shouted angrily, “Go ahead! I won’t lose to you!”
“Ailisi, if you dare harm a single hair on her head, I will never forgive you.”
Ailisi looked at Duente’s resolute eyes.
She took a deep breath and released the hand pressing down on Liweida’s face.
She stood up, dismissed the Flame Greatsword, looked down at Liweida, and said coldly, “I told you, you’re no match for me.”
Duente helped Liweida to her feet, brushed the dust off her, and gently stroked her face, saying with concern, “I miscalculated. I’m sorry.”
Liweida held his hand and said softly, “It’s okay, Senior. With your comfort, I’m instantly better.”
Ailisi watched this scene, clenching her teeth.
She began to despise herself.
Why was she jealous of Liweida?
Why did it take until now to realize that she, too, was nothing but a despicable woman?
What good was having the Gifted Flames?
The one loved by Duente now was no longer her!
Ailisi turned and walked away toward the school building, silently shedding tears.