"I can't believe someone I've never met knows so much about me! You must be the Seventh, right?" Phoenix said.
"Come on! Let's fight! I've been waiting impatiently! You've already slain several Heretic Gods in such a short time, including Chiyou, the War God of China. Show me what you've got!"
As soon as Phoenix finished speaking, a handsome young man with golden or blonde hair, casually slinging a massive greatsword over his shoulder, materialized nearby. He spoke casually, but his eyes burned with intense eagerness as he stared at Phoenix.
It wasn't lust for her beauty that drove him. For this young man, nothing compared to the thrill of battle.
Even the most stunning woman wouldn't catch his eye... unless... wait a minute.
The Seventh Campione? Her beauty seems to surpass even Cult Leader Luo Hao's!
Another person from China, and a woman at that.
Are all Chinese women this formidable?
-
Apart from Phoenix and Higokumaru, no one present knew how the young man had appeared.
However, when the leaders of the major factions heard his voice and saw his golden hair, their expressions visibly changed.
"The King of Swords!"
"..."
The golden-haired youth was none other than Salvatore Doni, the sixth Campione and King of Southern Europe.
Now that two Kings had appeared simultaneously, and with the King of Swords notorious as a battle maniac who would strike at any time or place without hesitation, the consequences were clear. If they clashed here, Milan would essentially be doomed.
"Lord Salvatore?"
Phoenix approached the youth with a smile.
Although she didn't consider him a worthy opponent, she wouldn't refuse if he wanted to fight. Besides, beating someone up sounded rather enjoyable.
Especially a Campione King like him—that would be extra satisfying.
"I am the sixth Campione, the 'King of Swords' who commands the magical societies of Southern Europe. As for the seventh..."
"I'm willing to fight," Phoenix began, "but not here. How about we leave Italy?"
Phoenix cut him off. "Agreed. It would be a shame to destroy my territory."
"Good! I didn't expect the Seventh Campione to be so agreeable," Doni replied without hesitation. As an Italian himself, he naturally had no objections to moving the fight elsewhere.
But the real reason Phoenix had agreed so readily was clear: had she refused, Doni likely wouldn't have cared about the location and would have charged in regardless.
"Let's go," Phoenix said, closing her eyes and scanning the area with her mental senses. "There's a sizable uninhabited island in international waters outside Italy—perfect for our battle."
"Agreed. To the island," Doni replied.
With Doni's agreement, Phoenix wasted no time. She took a single step and vanished, reappearing hundreds of meters away.
Doni followed swiftly, moving at similar speed...
As Phoenix and Doni departed, the leaders of the assembled factions breathed a collective sigh of relief. Thank goodness they hadn't started fighting here. The material losses would have been manageable, but the potential casualties would have been devastating.
Yet in the next instant, everyone surged toward the remote island. Even if they couldn't intervene in the battle between two Campione, they had to witness it firsthand. Only by observing the outcome could they swiftly determine their next course of action.
"Erica, get in the car!"
Just as Erica and Liliana were about to leave, a middle-aged man called out to Erica.
"Uncle!"
Erica paused in surprise. The man was Paul, commander of the Copper-Black Cross. She exchanged a glance with Liliana before separating and walking straight to Paul's side to enter the vehicle.
Once Erica was inside, Paul immediately ordered the driver to start the engine. Meanwhile, Liliana had been summoned by her Master and was also headed directly to the remote island.
"Erica, how does it feel to be by the King's side?" Paul asked calmly, glancing at his niece beside him in the car. Though his tone was even, a hint of concern was evident. He still cared deeply for her.
"Uncle, don't worry!" Erica assured him. "The King is different from other Campione. She gave us a tough introduction at first, but once you get to know her, you realize she's genuinely kind and fiercely protective of her allies."
"She's not as domineering and ruthless as Cult Leader Luo Hao, nor as reckless as Lord Salvatore... She's a truly worthy 'King.'"
Erica spoke without hesitation, sharing her understanding of Phoenix.
"Is that so? That's good to hear." Paul seemed to visibly relax. "It appears our earlier choice wasn't a mistake."
"Of course, Uncle. You wouldn't believe it—the King has slain several Heretic Gods in just two short months. Even Cult Leader Luo Hao holds her in great esteem."
"I've heard about Luo Hao becoming the King's sworn sister, so I never worried about her," Paul replied. As the leader of a major faction, he was naturally aware of the relationship between Luo Hao and Phoenix.
Given that both were heroines, Campiones, and Chinese natives, it wasn't particularly surprising that they had become sworn sisters.
They only knew that Luo Hao and Phoenix had become sworn sisters, unaware that Luo Hao addressed Phoenix as "Elder Sister" and had even become her disciple. They mistakenly assumed Phoenix was the younger sister. This information was known only to a select few and had never been publicly disclosed.
On a remote island in international waters, not far from Italy, Phoenix and Doni, two Campiones, swiftly arrived.
"Let's not waste any time. Begin, Doni," Phoenix said calmly, beckoning him forward.
"I didn't expect you to be more eager than me. If that's the case, let the battle commence!" Doni replied with a surprised grin, which quickly turned serious as he prepared himself.
"Let this oath be sworn: I will not permit anything to exist that this blade cannot cleave. This sword is the peerless edge capable of severing all things on this earth!"
As Doni uttered the Spirit Speech, his flesh-and-blood hand transformed into a silver metallic gauntlet. Immense Cursed Power enveloped the weapon, imbuing it with the miraculous power to rend the earth, reshape landscapes, and cleave the very sea—a Magic Sword with the authority to cut through all creation.
-
TL Note: Im debating on redoing volume 1+ since I'm more experienced than before and reading my old tl hurts. Did a few chapters at the beginning, not sure if its worth doing tho.