Chapter 225: The Seed of Rebellion Has Sprouted
At a certain level, swordsmanship is no longer simply about practicing moves, but rather about matching skills with the corresponding state of mind.
A warrior with extraordinary courage is suited for fierce, all-out combat, while a calculating old fox naturally sets traps everywhere – these are all illusions.
Elven swordsmen often dedicate their entire lives to nothing but the way of the sword, honing skills that match their state of mind.
Even if the Magical World does not emphasize the cultivation of the mind, what distinguishes a person from a machine is creativity and subjective desire.
It is often in environments pushed to their limits that one’s mind adds variables beyond those limits.
Princess Windsor’s instructors were naturally the finest Sword Saints of the Elven Empire. Even though Roger had become an unparalleled tank due to his passive abilities and possessed divine sword skills rewarded by the system, allowing him to charge forward and suppress his opponents to the point of mutual destruction being impossible, they would typically have their HP depleted within three minutes, determining the victor.
However, this did not mean he was invincible.
This was a sword skill competition, and others could also utilize the rules.
The variations on a small arena were limited. Those Sword Saints had taught Windsor a set of techniques designed around Roger’s previously displayed personality and fighting style, utilizing every inch of space to its maximum.
No matter how recklessly Roger unleashed his “Turbulent Wind” style, he ultimately couldn’t outpace Windsor. At best, it would be a defeat by time expiration.
Windsor, as a royal bloodline, possessed a skill called “Moon Shadow Transformation.” Just as the name suggested, it turned her into a streak of moonlight, granting her invulnerability to damage for a period.
Of course, she could not harm enemies during this time—how could moonlight injure anyone?
However, Moon Shadow Transformation was incredibly flexible, with each use lasting a maximum of one second and a cooldown of one second.
This meant that with skillful use and by maintaining an attack rhythm, she could evade all enemy damage.
It was quite a shameless tactic.
But compared to Roger’s earlier display of tanking and fighting to the death, it was six of one, half a dozen of the other. Neither could accuse the other of cheating.
Windsor had never used this skill in her previous matches; she had reached the finals entirely through her own sword skills, which gave her a great sense of accomplishment.
She still wanted to challenge Roger’s shameless fighting style with her genuine skill.
However, her elders and advisors would not allow it.
They did not want to see a human win in the sword skills that elves excelled at, especially knowing Roger’s identity.
In a real war, the elves would certainly not be a match for humans. But were they to have their meticulously honed sword techniques, cultivated over countless generations, be so easily trampled by a human?
No, they would not accept it!
Therefore, Windsor bore the mission of inevitable victory; at the very least, she could not lose.
Her swordplay consultants, along with the temporarily enlisted Sword Saints, examined Roger’s previously displayed sword skills and tactics. They saw nothing but flaws and, one by one, devised the perfect strategy for Windsor.
Windsor was reluctant, but as the perfect princess and heir to the Elven Empire, she had to win back face for the elves.
Even if it was a trivial matter of pride, one that could not change the overall strategic situation.
Winning against a Duke, an empire not known for its combat prowess, did that truly signify the elves’ strength?
She watched the Sword Saints instruct her on how to win with fanatical expressions and felt a sense of helplessness.
They were playing around, yet here they were, having to go all out…
Did they not find such a situation truly pathetic?
Unfortunately, she was the perfect princess. She had to maintain the royal dignity and the elves’ honor at all times, and could not utter anything disrespectful at this juncture.
These elders, who clung so fiercely to their pride, would certainly not admit their mistakes. They would only assume Windsor lacked confidence and was afraid to fight.
Thus, even as she stood on the stage, Windsor felt incredibly awkward.
For her prideful elven compatriots, she had to dance desperately, holding up the fig leaf of their honor…
It had been this way for the past hundred years, and it would continue for the next hundred, and perhaps even when she became Empress!
In such a life, no matter how much praise she received, was it truly praise for *her*?
But in the end, she followed her teachers’ instructions and struck out at Roger, beginning their feinting and probing battle.
The result, however, was quite unexpected.
Windsor, relying on her speed, launched the first attack. According to the Sword Saints’ analysis, Roger should have completely abandoned defense and counter-attacked.
Instead, his wild, chaotic swordplay that had seemed to tear through the elven sword hall suddenly changed!
*Clang!*
A perfect defense!
Because she had expected Roger to counter-attack, Windsor’s strike, though somewhat casual, was met with an almost perfect response. Roger deflected it at the weakest point of her sword’s spine, slowing her recovery speed.
Roger followed with a horizontal slash, attacking her.
Windsor broke out in a cold sweat and activated Moon Shadow Transformation.
“Royal bloodline, it’s Princess Windsor?”
“Oh ho ho, go Princess, crush that despicable outsider!”
The elven audience erupted.
While elven royalty possessed the potential to awaken the Moon Shadow Transformation ability, it depended on talent, and not all royal descendants could achieve it.
At her age, and being female, the only one known to the public was their perfect princess, Windsor!
They had initially thought the night would belong to the human swordsman’s triumph, but with their princess suddenly appearing on stage, their confidence for victory reignited.
Windsor pursed her lips. Roger’s change in style surprised her, but it also brought a hint of joy she couldn’t quite understand.
If the scenario her advisors had predicted didn’t unfold, what would she do?
Since no one was barking instructions in her ear, could she perhaps fight in her own style?
Moon Shadow Transformation provided a brief opening. Windsor took a deep breath and attacked again!
Although Moon Shadow Transformation could not deal damage, it allowed her to adjust her posture and regain the initiative, making it an incredibly effective move that could easily grant absolute advantage in battles of similar strength.
But the problem was, her opponent was not of “similar strength”!
Roger seemed to have anticipated Windsor’s choice, immediately retreating and narrowly dodging her counter-attack.
He then moved to Windsor’s defensive blind spot but did not advance. Instead, he patiently waited for her to attack, making her predicted roll appear particularly clumsy.
But from the shadows, Windsor thrust her sword!
The enemy had foolishly given her an opportunity, and she would seize it, humiliating him with victory!
She saw a smile play on Roger’s lips.
Not wildness, but a cold, emotionless chill. His swordplay was equally frigid. He once again found the blind spot in Windsor’s attack path, lightly broke through it, and then attacked, forcing her to use Moon Shadow Transformation.
A trace of shame and annoyance flickered across Windsor’s face. It was the first time she had been so easily thwarted in her opening move.
But she had no time to ponder fighting styles or strategies. She could only focus on one thing now…
The fight!
Defeating the enemy before her!
He was strong and arrogant; she had to defeat him!
However, this time Roger did not let her make her move. Instead, as if anticipating her attack route after activating Moon Shadow Transformation, he preemptively countered.
Again, he blocked at the weak point, completely disrupting Windsor’s attack rhythm, making it incredibly difficult for her. She was forced to face Roger’s relentless onslaught, which felt suffocating, wave after wave of attacks!
She defended instinctively, using all her techniques. Moon Shadow Transformation was triggered again and again, but she remained on the defensive.
Even the most skilled Sword Saint advisors in the court had never put her under such pressure.
She felt as if she were facing a mountain, an insurmountable peak, with no openings to be found!
At this moment, she wasn’t fighting Roger, but an intelligent assistant backed by the countless computational resources of the “Fearless Space.” It processed all information in the space and preemptively predicted her every move!
Even though Moon Shadow Transformation had not been previously stored in the intelligent assistant’s database, through real-time data collection and online analysis, it had incorporated Windsor’s new skill into its calculations within a few rounds!
Then came the continuous attacks that seemed to toy with a child, with no openings visible, yet always leaving Windsor with a breath to spare.
She thought, if she could last until the three-minute mark, they would both be eliminated, and there would be no victor tonight!
But she quickly saw the mockery growing on Roger’s lips.
Their figures crossed. Windsor saw the timer on the arena, which read 2:58.
And at this very moment, she had just used Moon Shadow Transformation, meaning she no longer had her damage-evading skill!
A sword pierced her heart.
At 2:59, after being slain by the enemy, she lost. This outsider was the victor of the night!
Of course, in a strictly regulated arena match, while not a virtual space like “Blissful Illusion,” the ancient magic of the Elven Empire could nullify all injuries.
Princess Windsor’s body was laid down by the referee. She looked at Roger, her eyes filled with confusion, and asked, “Why did you toy with me?”
She referred to Roger’s earlier feigned weakness, and also to the fact that he could have won earlier but chose to wait until the 2:59 mark, killing her only at the very last moment.
“You also enjoyed fighting as Windsor, not as the perfect princess, didn’t you?”
Roger retorted.
He saw the panic and a different light quickly appear in Windsor’s eyes. He gave a slight bow and walked past her, leaving the silent sword hall.
Although it was a ploy to fish for information, the feeling of being booed by countless elves upon entering the stage, turning the venue into a library…
It was wonderful!
Even if it was achieved through technological advancement, creating an invincible human…
But arming oneself with one’s own intelligence was a means of survival, however ruthless.
So, he still had to praise Deep Blue – well fought!
…
…
As magic developed greatly, swordsmanship became a very niche hobby.
Although many warriors were devoted to this traditional weapon, for the entire Elven Empire, with the ultimate attraction of “Blissful Illusion” out there, the victory of a human in a sword hall would not spread far.
The elves, who prioritized their pride, would also not allow such news to circulate.
However, Windsor remained lost in thought for a long time.
For an ordinary swordsman, a single defeat was inconsequential.
But exposing her true identity through Moon Shadow Transformation and then failing dealt a devastating blow to her perfect reputation.
Perfection was extremely difficult to create and maintain, but it could be shattered in an instant.
Even though Roger’s displayed combat power was terrifying, with few Sword Saints present daring to claim they could surely win, people still hurled vicious insults at those who directly lost the match.
A group of swordplay consultants knelt before Princess Windsor, shamefully confessing, “We misguided Your Highness. Please punish us.”
Windsor’s eyes still held a hint of confusion. Everyone assumed she was shaken by the vulgar insults from the commoners outside.
In reality, she was reminiscing about the feeling of being suppressed by Roger, when only her survival instinct remained.
In pure combat, she was just a simple swordswoman.
Losing was indeed painful, but having exhausted all her means and still lost, she was convinced and felt exhilarated!
At that moment, she was a young girl who fought with her own style and felt no regret even in defeat.
Rather than being the perfect princess burdened by the future of the Elven race, needing to excel in all aspects.
Looking at the kneeling, trembling, and guilt-ridden high officials whose tears flowed, Princess Windsor smiled and waved her hand. “It’s fine with me. You should figure out how to deal with my mother~”
The one who cared most about the label of “perfection” was not her, but her mother, the current Empress!
If Windsor had participated in the challenge anonymously, a loss would have been acceptable, as no one would have known.
But these advisors had urged her to pursue victory using the Moon Shadow Transformation ability, only for her to still lose. Her reputation as the perfect princess was now shattered.
The swordplay consultants’ faces grew increasingly grim. They knew the Empress’s methods well and feared that what awaited them would be more than just losing their positions.
Windsor excused herself to the restroom, leaving the ministers whose minds had nearly frozen.
In a small space, a magic scroll appeared in her hand. It was given to her by Roger as they passed each other.
She could discern it was a teleportation scroll.
In her normal state, Windsor would never have used it. A teleportation scroll from a rival nation’s intelligence official – who knew what traps awaited her?
But after the battle she had tonight, Windsor’s mindset had subtly shifted.
Despite only three minutes of interaction, Roger had left an indelible impression on her heart.
Who wanted to be the obedient child forever?
Windsor tore open the scroll.
A teleportation scroll special to the Arcane Society, it tore open a spatial gate, bypassing the As’leaf ‘s strict defensive magic array.
The princess, no longer perfect from this night onward, stepped into it.
Once the seed of rebellion was sown, it would quickly take root and sprout.
…
…
Above the World Tree, aboard the Yongye, sailing in secret.
On the bridge, Roger leaned against the railing, overlooking the land. He didn’t turn around even with the Elven princess beside him.
Windsor copied his posture, leaning on the railing, and discovered that from this angle, she could see both the tallest giant tree and As’leaf, which looked like a miniature toy.
“So, humans can already breach our defenses at will,” Windsor’s voice carried a hint of bitterness and self-mockery.
The Yongye had reached this position, yet the Elven Empire had no idea. It could deliver a fatal blow at any moment.
The defensive magic array didn’t have the energy to be at its highest setting at all times to withstand the Yongye’s main cannons.
“This is not Your Highness’s fault.”
“Certainly not. You’ve developed too quickly.”
“Is that also a fault?”
“Can we not talk about state affairs?”
“Then where does Your Highness wish to go tonight?”
“Where is there to choose from?”
“Anywhere is an option.”
Roger replied proudly.
This was the confidence provided by the Azurevine Empire’s strength.
Wherever you wish to go, the Yongye will break through, and who dares to retaliate?
Windsor fell silent for a long time, contemplating the empire’s power and her sudden freedom.
She suddenly hugged Roger’s arm, her smile like a blooming flower. “Please, Duke, make the arrangements.”
Roger lifted her chin. “Just as I expected. Do you want to see the sea?”
