Reid's blood mist surged without warning. Dark crimson fog spread like a rising tide, instantly swallowing both of them within its depths.
"If you want to be first mate," Reid's voice echoed through the haze, "then show me what you can do."
Because Reid was still uncertain about her true strength, he instinctively chose the most reliable method of pre-battle suppression. Within the scarlet world he created, he layered his Conqueror's will into the mist. Countless invisible gazes seemed to peer out from the fog, heavy with pressure and danger, enough to make most opponents suffocate before the fight even began.
Vette let out a soft laugh and slowly raised a single finger.
"As you wish, Captain."
In the next instant, ice-blue roses bloomed beneath her feet. Bitter cold spread outward as crystalline vines erupted and twisted wildly through Reid's mist. Roses and blood fog intertwined, beautiful and eerie at once.
Within the fog and the sea of flowers, their figures flickered in and out of sight.
"Roses?" Reid raised an eyebrow. "They're beautiful."
"Well," Vette tilted her head slightly, a mischievous smile on her lips, "roses have thorns, don't they? And Captain, they smell wonderful. Don't you want to take a breath?"
"My mist can refresh your mind too. You should try it," she added lightly.
As they spoke, both of them took several deep breaths.
Outside the battlefield, Tesoro adjusted his glasses and spoke calmly. "Analysis result: loss of consciousness. Air intake severely restricted. The atmosphere contains corrosive components and toxins. This course of action is strongly discouraged."
"Captain, you didn't tell the whole truth," someone muttered.
"I had the same feeling," another agreed.
Vette's next words rang clearly through the fog. "Let's have a fair fight."
"Gladly," Reid replied.
Under the moonlight, crimson blood mist and ice-blue roses wove together into a breathtaking domain. Reid clenched his right hand, and the mist condensed instantly into a massive black greatsword. Dark red fog flowed along its blade, slow and alive, as if the weapon itself were breathing.
"Mist God Style: Dragon's Fury."
With a sharp flick of his wrist, Reid brought the blade down. The blood mist roared, forming a ferocious dragon head that charged straight toward Vette.
Vette remained perfectly calm. Her silver sword gleamed coldly beneath the moon.
"Language of Flowers: First Bloom."
She tapped the ground gently with her sword tip. Ice-blue roses erupted in an instant, forming a wall of blossoms that split the charging dragon cleanly in two.
A trace of admiration flashed through Reid's eyes. His figure blurred, and he reappeared directly in front of her.
"Mist God Style: Blood Dragon Calamity."
Nine blood dragons coiled around Reid. His figure vanished again, and when he reappeared, he was already within striking distance.
"Language of Flowers: Full Attire."
Vette retreated gracefully, each step leaving a fully bloomed rose suspended in midair. Her blade intercepted every strike with perfect precision. The clear, ringing sound of metal clashing echoed beautifully through the night.
"Mist God Style: Devour Blood!"
Reid suddenly changed tactics. The black greatsword dissolved into countless strands of blood mist that surged toward Vette from all directions.
"Language of Flowers: Dance of Thorns."
Vette spun in place, her silver sword tracing a flawless circle. The ice-blue roses instantly sprouted sharp thorns, deflecting every thread of blood mist.
The battle escalated. Reid's black blade and Vette's silver sword collided again and again, sparks flying with each impact.
"One final move," Reid said suddenly as he drew his sword back.
Mist God Style: Twin Dragons Playing with the Pearl.
The entire space seemed to freeze. All the blood mist compressed instantly into the sword tip, then burst outward as two roaring blood dragons, one from the left, one from the right.
Vette took a deep breath and raised her silver sword.
"Language of Flowers: Eternal Vow."
Ice-blue roses bloomed around her, petals drifting gently through the air. At that moment, time itself seemed to stand still.
Just as the two forces were about to collide
Did they collide?
No. They did not collide at all.
Both attacks shattered into liquid fragments. From the very beginning, this had been a battle of illusions. Within the shared domain of blood mist and roses, the real fight had already been taking place on another level entirely.
(Reid: I told you long ago, magicians are all sly and devious. Upstanding, intelligent, cheerful, and handsome people like me are becoming rarer by the day.)
"Interesting," Reid's voice came from all directions. "Your illusions are anything but shallow."
"I think so too," Vette's soft laughter drifted through the thin mist. "And Captain, your laughter is quite charming as well."
Laboon stared in shock. "Huh? When did they even start? I didn't notice anything at all!"
Tesoro patted Laboon's head calmly. These two were naturally built to counter tank-type fighters like him.
Suddenly, all illusions shattered at once. Reid appeared behind Vette, the black tide greatsword resting lightly against her back.
"However," Reid said with a hint of amusement, "in the face of absolute power, illusions are ultimately just tricks. And I happen to be quite skilled with illusions myself."
Vette blinked.
Reid frowned. This was bad. When Vette blinked, it was just as dangerous as the Dragon King twitching his mouth.
"Oh my, I've been exposed," she said, turning around casually, completely unconcerned about the sword tip pressed to her chest. "But Captain, are you sure you're not inside my illusion right now?"
Reid raised an eyebrow, about to reply, when he suddenly realized that the black tide greatsword in his hand had turned into a rose. The surroundings shifted completely. They were standing in an endless rose garden.
"Language of Flowers: Mirror Bloom, Water Moon."
Vette bowed elegantly. "This is my ultimate magic."
Reid scanned the garden, then suddenly laughed. "Not bad. Very impressive." He snapped his fingers.
With a crisp sound, the entire rose garden shattered like glass. They returned to the deck, Reid's sword tip still aimed at Vette's heart.
"I saw through it long ago," Reid said as he withdrew the blade, blood mist once again wrapping around him. "From the moment you started speaking."
Vette puffed out her cheeks. "How boring. Couldn't you let me win just once?"
"When you truly become first mate, we can talk about that." Reid turned and walked toward the cabin, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth. "That said, your illusions were genuinely impressive."
Reid's inner thoughts raced. I am absolutely cool right now. Perfect. Reid, keep it together. Do not let the smile show. Walk back slowly and leave them with the image of a reliable head of the family.
Vette jogged after him. "So does that mean I passed?"
"Barely acceptable."
Yes. This tone is perfect. So refined. Reid, you are a genius.
"Yes!" Vette threw up a victory sign, then turned to the onlookers and shouted, "Did you hear that? I'm officially the first mate now!"
Perona floated over and hugged her. "Congratulations, Sister Vette!"
Tesoro adjusted his glasses. "Captain, the repair costs will still be deducted from your allowance."
"What?!"
Reid instantly appeared in front of Tesoro, glaring at him. "Old Tesoro, what do you mean by that? Are you targeting me? We fight side by side, and you want me to pay alone?"
Tesoro was not fooled by Reid's theatrics. He pointed at the massive hole in the deck, where blood mist was still slowly corroding the surface.
Reid fell silent.
The silence was deafening.
Vette suddenly wanted to slap herself. Why did I come back here at all?