Chapter 174

Chapter 174: Battle on Water

Faero Bay, coastal area of the inner sea. This calm and tranquil shallow water zone, once the iconic scenery admired by nobles from their villas, now bore an ominous tension.

A fifteen-meter single-masted fore-and-aft rig swayed on the waves like a lone leaf caught in a storm. Midi stood at the bow of the rocking ship, while the young Xuzu General Liufeng occupied the stern.

Water battle.

First to fall into the sea loses.

This was Liufeng’s condition. He claimed the spar should remain casual—no bloodshed, only spectacle for the watching heirs of major maritime families and Silvia, Faero Bay’s jewel. Naturally, Midi agreed.

Yet the idea that this sharp-tongued Xuzu envoy truly cared about "friendly sparring" or "spectacle" was laughable. This was a test.

But with the golden small sword now solidified within him, Midi no longer bothered guessing his opponent’s schemes. Battles were unpredictable. One couldn’t always fight from perfect preparedness—sometimes facing stronger enemies at a disadvantage. For a mere spar, overcaution would only dull his edge.

*Whatever tricks you have, my sword is enough.*

Catching Midi’s calm resolve, Liufeng’s eyes flashed with hostility. “Confident, Count? Let’s see you fight without this ship!”

Before the words faded, the charged energy ball in his palm erupted.

Psionicist skill: Energy Wave.

A Xuzu Psionicist’s Energy Wave dwarfed those of West Coast practitioners. The projectile tore through air like a cannon shell, swirling winds distorting nearby magic and demon god’s power.

Midi sidestepped effortlessly.

Liufeng smirked. His hands flowed through gestures before his finger-blade pointed where Midi had stood.

The errant energy ball shuddered mid-air, veered like a kite on invisible strings, and smashed into the deck.

BOOM!

Wood splinters exploded as the shockwave rocked the ship. Waves churned beneath the hull. The blast had pierced clean through the deck and bottom, flooding the vessel.

Midi understood.

The target was never him—it was the ship. From the start, Liufeng aimed to destroy their footing.

With seawater rising through the shattered bow, Liufeng dropped pretense, grinning openly. His initial fear—that Midi might shatter the fragile energy ball—had proved unfounded. Letting a close-combat sword soul near would’ve doomed his plan. But now, victory was assured.

Xuzu Psionicists possessed unique light steps—they needed but a foothold to walk on water.

The next moment, a powerful white energy stream erupted from Liufeng’s palm, coiling around him like a flying serpent. The swirling energy whipped his clothes and hair wildly while making his body gradually lighter, as if he could leap into flight at any moment.

Psionicist skill: Energy Surround.

Ordinary psionicists used this skill as a close-range attack with minor defensive benefits, compensating for their weakness in melee combat. But the Xuzu Psionicist’s version differed remarkably—it granted extraordinary lightness, allowing even a heavy body to float on water with just a wooden plank.

Still unsatisfied, Liufeng released a second stream of green energy from his palm. Unlike the white energy, this one dispersed into a faint mist enveloping him. His movements became fluid, his outline blurred.

Psionicist skill: Wind Aura.

Though commonly used to boost speed, the Xuzu version fused seamlessly with Energy Surround. With both enhancements, Liufeng wasn’t just light—he became nimble.

This nimbleness let him balance effortlessly on turbulent waves using a tiny plank, moving faster than on land.

Having activated both skills, Liufeng felt certain of victory. His gaze toward Midi now burned with confidence.

Yet Midi’s calm, mocking smile cast lingering gloom over his heart.

*Does this guy have another trump card?*

Liufeng wondered. But what could a sword soul do on a sinking ship? Unlike psionicists manipulating energy, sword souls couldn’t even use demon god power—all he can do is swing his sword.

Unless this man truly was Belmar’s "Sword of Victory and Guardian"—lover of their beautiful Queen, Midi Asreks, the genius commander mastering all four Demon Swordman styles. Then he might deploy Ghost Cry techniques like freezing the sea with an Ice Binding Array.

But that would expose Midi’s identity to Liufeng and the hundreds watching from shore. Even if defeated, Liufeng could boast about forcing Midi Asreks to reveal his true power.

So why was this "Count of Saint Tower Island" so composed?

"Clever planning," Midi’s icy voice cut through the crashing waves, "but you’ll never win. All these rules—sparring limits, water hazards—prove one thing: you fear facing me directly." His dark eyes gleamed. "Let me teach you real battle!"

With those words, Midi’s Black Sky sword smashed downward with crushing force toward the ship’s center.

Ultimate Intent unleashed—who could withstand it? Empowered by the small golden sword’s energy, this strike dwarfed Liufeng’s energy blast. Thick steel would shatter, let alone a battered wooden hull.

The blade cleaved the ship instantly into two pristine halves, not a splinter flying. Below, seawater split into a Gigantic Vortex—a Behemoth’s maw ready to Consume all.

"What?!" Liufeng gasped, stunned by Midi’s ship-destroying move.

Before he could react, Midi struck again—this time directly at the sea. The water cratered as if crushed by a falling mountain, erupting into towering waves.

Midi soared skyward, Black Sky sword trailing razor winds. Using the strike’s recoil, he vaulted dozens of meters—body weight, blade force, and momentum fused into one devastating overhead strike aimed at Liufeng!