Huff... Huff... Huff...
Is this for real...? What exactly is this cat?!
-
The Luofu Xianzhou, at the rear garden of the Palace of Astrum.
Not much time had passed, and the competition between Yunli and the Phantylia Kitten was quickly drawing to a close.
Yunli was drenched in sweat, gasping for breath, her hands gripping Old Mettle trembling slightly as her stamina waned.
Her eyes locked fiercely on the Phantylia Kitten, its chest puffed out and head held high before her, her teeth clenched tightly.
Though the kitten showed no visible expression, Yunli knew all too well that its gaze held nothing but contempt and mockery, as if everything she did were no more significant than an ant brandishing a great sword.
"S-Sister Lumina... what exactly is this cat...?"
"I feel like... I've seen this kitten somewhere before?"
As March 7th watched the Phantylia Kitten—its tiny frame radiating an aura of disdain for all living beings and unparalleled arrogance—she involuntarily leaned closer to her Sister Lumina.
Lowering her voice, March 7th asked Sister Lumina, her tone a mix of doubt and certainty:
This aura... I know it too well. It's definitely not from a single encounter.
I've seen her at least twice, and recently too.
And I even faced her directly!
"Don't overthink it, March," Lumina said, stroking the Little Kitten beside her. "She's been with me all along. I kept her in a special Storage Space until recently. You couldn't possibly have seen her before."
Lumina couldn't help but marvel at March 7th's sharp intuition.
But admiration aside, Lumina would never reveal that the soul of a Lord Ravager resided within this seemingly harmless kitten.
"Ah? Really? But..."
"Don't worry, March. I would never lie to you."
Hearing Sister Lumina's explanation, March 7th remained skeptical. She opened her mouth to protest, but Lumina cut her off mid-sentence.
"Hmm... you're right. How could Sister Lumina ever lie to me?" March 7th nodded, abandoning her questions.
If Sister Lumina said so, then it must be true.
My perception must be wrong. Sister Lumina could never be mistaken, nor would she ever lie to me!
After reasoning this out, March 7th convinced herself to believe Sister Lumina's words.
She banished the feeling that the little kitten before her looked incredibly familiar and shifted her focus back to the competition.
"Hmm..." Beside them, Little Swarm, who had overheard every word of March 7th and Lumina's conversation, glanced at the Phantylia Kitten currently battling Yunli. She tilted her head, a hint of puzzlement in her eyes.
The exact same aura... just a different shell...
Isn't this the same person from before?
Little Swarm's mind swirled with questions, her perceptive abilities far surpassing March 7th's.
However, though Little Swarm knew the Little Kitten's true identity, she kept silent.
After all, if the Great Creator had orchestrated this, it must serve a deeper purpose.
Little Swarm would never, and could never allow herself, to interfere with the Great Creator's grand design...
-
"Alright, let's end this match here," Lumina declared as the referee.
Moments later, she announced the results: Phantylia Kitten emerged unscathed, as did Yunli.
However, while Phantylia Kitten's breathing remained steady, Yunli looked on the verge of collapse, as if she might collapse at any moment.
Therefore, the outcome was clear: Phantylia Kitten was the victor.
"Meow... (Phew...)" Upon hearing the match's conclusion, Phantylia Kitten glanced at Yunli, noting her lack of visible injuries and the absence of dejection in her eyes from being defeated. Seeing that Yunli hadn't been frightened, the Phantylia Kitten breathed a sigh of relief.
Given Yunli's overwhelming weakness, yet Lumina's strict orders against harming or frightening her, this match had been a pure torment for Phantylia Kitten.
Every attack and every defense required meticulous control over her power and emotions. She feared losing control of her strength and accidentally killing Yunli with a single paw strike. She also worried about losing control of her emotions, inadvertently blocking Yunli's attacks with a mere flick of her finger...
"I've lost..." Yunli said, sheathing Old Mettle without showing any shock or resentment, just a calm acceptance.
If her opponent had won by a fluke or only by a narrow margin, Yunli might have refused to accept defeat, demanding a rematch and seeking excuses for her loss.
But in this duel, the Little Kitten had completely overwhelmed her from start to finish. Yunli wouldn't be foolish enough to challenge it again, not with everyone watching, risking further humiliation for herself and for Zhuming Swordsmanship...
Moreover...
Throughout the entire match, the Little Kitten had maintained an effortless demeanor, showing not the slightest sign of fatigue after unleashing its power.
Which meant... it hadn't even used its full strength. In fact, it might not have used even half of its power.
Gasping for breath, Yunli waited for her stamina to recover slightly before casting a curious glance at the Phantylia Kitten.
After studying it from head to toe for a moment, she turned to Lumina, her voice filled with curiosity. "Lumina, what kind of cat... is this?"
"I mean, does it belong to a specific race or something?"
"Hmm... I don't know." Lumina shook her head, indicating her ignorance. She walked over to the Phantylia Kitten, crouched down, and scooped it into her arms. Gently stroking the kitten's head, she turned her gaze to Yunli with a warm smile and explained, "I found this little kitten outside."
"Where it came from, what race it belongs to, and why it possesses strength far beyond that of ordinary creatures—I know none of these things."
"But I do know one thing..." Lumina paused, then refocused her gaze on the Phantylia Kitten, her hand continuing to rub its head. Her voice softened as she murmured, "This little kitten is so well-behaved... I adore it."
Phantylia Kitten: ...
Me, well-behaved? You adore me?
Even I—no, even I, a cat—don't believe that! You probably don't believe it yourself, do you?
As expected... this woman's specialty is lying through her teeth without batting an eye. A master liar—no hesitation, no guilt, just pure, unadulterated bullshit!
This wretched woman! Phantylia Kitten thought viciously, but outwardly she obeyed Lumina's words and followed her movements, feigning extreme docility and affection. When Lumina stroked her head, she lowered her head and nuzzled against Lumina's palm.
Ugh...
Nuzzling and feeling disgusted at the same time.
Phantylia Kitten found her own behavior utterly disgusting.
But...
When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head...
Once I regain my peak strength, I'll make this wretched woman experience exactly how I feel right now!
Once I'm at my peak again, I'll turn this wretched woman into a $%#@%!, turn her into someone who can't even take a step without me!
"Heh..." Having heard Phantylia Kitten's every inner thought, Lumina's eyes flashed with a cold light, and she couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
The hand stroking Phantylia Kitten's head gradually applied more force.
A mere pet, daring to defy its master?
Rebellious, are we?
Looks like it needs a lesson... No matter, I have all the time in the world to play with you...
Lumina thought to herself, resolving to devise a method to completely eradicate Phantylia's rebellious thoughts...