Chapter 7: Third-Tier Martial Warrior

Facing the foul-mouthed girl before him, Oak didn’t curse back.

Instead, he pulled off the beast-skin vest from his body, tossed it onto the ground, and gripped his greatsword with both hands.

He had watched the fight between the girl and his subordinates clearly from beginning to end.

The girl hadn’t used a single trace of martial energy—
just pure technique—
and yet she killed his men within a few seconds.

Though his two subordinates were merely First-Tier Warriors, the fact that she killed them so effortlessly meant her skill and ruthlessness were enough for Oak to treat her seriously.

“Oak, Third-Tier Martial Warrior.
Please grant me your guidance, Miss.”

With his low voice, the muscles across Oak’s body bulged.

The veins stood out sharply, and his aura grew stronger and stronger.

Faint flames flickered around his greatsword, jumping and twisting in the air.

“Oh?
Now you remember to act civilized?
What were you doing earlier?”

“Wait.
Third-Tier Warrior?”

“You’re a Third-Tier Warrior?!”

Looking at Oak, Yiluo’s smile gradually stiffened, then shifted into startled surprise tinged with a bit of panic.

Of course, Yiluo wasn’t actually afraid—
in her dreams, she’d faced plenty of people far stronger than this.

She just wanted to see if she could coax some information out of him to better understand this world’s power levels.

For someone who used to be a top-class agent, no one understood the art of lying better than she did.

Seeing the girl’s startled expression, Oak’s originally cautious demeanor loosened, and the corner of his mouth lifted.

He instantly grew arrogant and proud.

“Hahaha! Little brat, scared now?”

“I am a genuine, proper Third-Tier Martial Warrior.
In the entire Elva Empire, any mercenary group would treat me like a treasured guest.
Even a count would greet me respectfully!”

“Heh, but it’s too late to be afraid now.
You killed my men, so you’ll pay with your life!”

“Die!”

Oak didn’t give Yiluo a chance to respond.

Both hands tightened around his flame-coated greatsword, his speed exploding far beyond what the previous two could compare to.

He dashed straight in front of Yiluo, the burning blade slashing toward her.

“Explosive Slash!”

Oak roared as he unleashed the martial skill he had learned only after reaching Third-Tier.

A dazzling arc of blade-light tore through the air, and scorching heat rushed toward Yiluo, as if it would burn her into ashes.

Hmph.

Doesn’t know the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth.

To die under my Explosive Slash—
consider it your honor!

Oak grinned widely.
As a Third-Tier Warrior, his status was indeed high.

But seeing someone terrified just from hearing his rank—
this was the first time.

How should he describe it?

It felt great.
Extremely satisfying.
So satisfying he instantly went all-out.

He wanted to enjoy the girl’s face full of fear and regret as she died.

Haha, begging for mercy is useless now.

Die!

Let me see how wonderful your expression looks at the moment of death.

Oak had never been this arrogant and ecstatic.

But—
the girl’s expression was not what he expected.

She smiled faintly.

Her body tilted forward slightly.

Left arm strike.
Right elbow strike.
A light kick.

In a single instant, Oak was hit by a rapid series of blows.

Her speed was so fast he didn’t even have time to react.

His wrist went numb and the greatsword flew from his hand.

His solar plexus took a heavy blow, knocking the air out of him.

His ankle twisted painfully and he crashed to the ground.

“Did your lackeys learn their moves from you?
Next time, don’t teach people something so full of holes.”

Her voice was pleasant and gentle—
yet when it entered Oak’s ears, all he felt was terror.

This girl…
used the exact same moves she used to kill his subordinates—
and took him down effortlessly?

She didn’t even use martial energy!

Why…
why is this happening?

I’m…
I’m a Third-Tier Warrior!

A Third-Tier Warrior!

I can still counterattack!

I definitely can!

Oak roared inside his mind.

But reality didn’t give him the chance.

Because the moment he hit the ground—

Yiluo delivered a fourth strike.

Her left foot smashed into the upper side of his head.

Crack—

“Oh, right.
You won’t have a next time to teach anyone anything.”

Yiluo looked at Oak’s head twisted a full 360 degrees.

Her smile faded, replaced by a cold expression.

Even though she had killed a villain, it didn’t make her feel happy.

Only tired. Only annoyed.

“Even without using that strange energy…
I’m still far stronger than a Third-Tier Warrior.”

“Elva Empire uses a noble title system, and warriors are considered valuable…
so a Third-Tier should indeed have a decent position in a mercenary group.”

“As for a count greeting him respectfully…”

“Um, that’s obviously bragging.
His body language gave it away—
bigger movements, unconscious blinking.”

“Third-Tier Warriors probably have status, but there should be plenty of them.”

She murmured softly, analyzing the information she had gained.

This person really had a rich expressive face.

Lots of dramatic internal monologue.

Quite a decent two-faced actor.

Yiluo stopped looking at Oak and dismissed him from her thoughts.

She walked over to the cat-eared girl, crouched down, and gently wiped away the blood at the corner of her lips with the back of her hand.

Yiluo tried her best to show a warm smile.

“Are you okay?
What’s your name?”

The cat-eared girl didn’t seem frightened by the bloody battle.

Instead, her empty eyes regained a faint glimmer.

When Yiluo reached out to wipe her blood, she flinched slightly, but her body hurt too much to move away.

“Ka… Keke…”

The girl’s voice was weak, barely managing to say her name.

“My name is Yiluo.
Please take care of me.”

“Go to sleep.
When you wake up, everything will be fine.”

Keke was indeed exhausted.

Under Yiluo’s gentle voice, she finally lowered her guard and drifted into sleep.

Once she was out, Yiluo carefully cut the chains on her wrist and neck with her sword.

Then she checked her injuries.

Most were bruises and external wounds from beatings, but her left leg’s fracture was troublesome.

Still nothing Yiluo couldn’t fix.

She set the bone back into place with practiced efficiency.

“I really know how to find trouble for myself…”

Yiluo muttered, then lifted Keke into her arms.

She carried her back to the beast mount and continued on her journey.