"What a at grinder."
Hanna stood on the high platform, looking at the city streets below crowded with mages. The Rainbow Holy Grail was like a light in the deep sea, attracting countless greedy seekers to chase and blockade it. But looking at this noisy and chaotic scene, she preferred to call the Rainbow Holy Grail a pile of dung, leaving filth wherever it went.
The Starlight Body and mages were killing each other, mages were killing mages, with so mages launching sneak attacks and others forming teams to hunt. Tens of thousands of mages gathered to trigger a war, but it wasn’t for faith or ideals. The air was filled with naked greed and ferocity. The mages, tainted by desire, plunged into madness for an elusive opportunity. Even without their Claws, they were still the most ferocious beasts.
"Did the mastermind behind this event just want to see such an ugly and savage scene?"
"Isn’t civilized competition also ugly?" Siflin squatted beside her, holding her face in her hands. "This event isn’t so bad, at least all participants have a chance to reach the sky in one step, and even if they lose, it’s their own responsibility."
"At least civilized competition isn’t about blatant mutual slaughter."
"But the consequences of losing in civilized competition are worse than death. All your value will be squeezed and exhausted. Often, you don’t even know how you lost, let alone have the chance to be a participant; you’re just a prize for others."
Hanna shook her head, clearly not agreeing with Siflin’s view. Although she was a traitor from the Kingdom of Gospel, she was essentially an Evangelist. She had long been accustod to the low-intensity competitive environnt created by the Gospel System and couldn’t imagine the chaotic jungle wrapped in civilization in the Kingdom of Blood Moon.
This clash of thoughts was common; at least Gospel and Blood Moon were civilized societies. However, when Tamasi from Senluo entered the mix, she and they expanded each other’s horizons.
Siflin asked, "Should we compete?"
"Let’s try, we might just snatch it," Hanna said. While her compassion was real, so was her greed, and the Purple Moth never hid her duplicity, "But we must be careful."
At that mont, a fleeing Starlight Body darted across the street and into a building. Siflin glanced over and said, "The one holding the Holy Grail is a human female."
"They have almost no distinct physical characteristics. How can you tell?"
"I’m a dical Practitioner; human anatomy is a required course. There are many differences in movents between different races and genders."
"So, is it a man and a woman?"
"It’s hard to say. If Tamasi hides all her physical characteristics, I can’t determine her gender. Her martial skills are ingrained in her being, so Ash’s diary referring to her as a man makes sense," Siflin explained. "But anyone slightly trained in anatomy could tell from the shape of her pelvis. Her hips are the most perfect I’ve ever seen."
Hanna recalled and couldn’t help but click her tongue, "Indeed."
"So, are you suggesting that the ones forming the Holy Grail below might be Freyja and Tamasi?"
"I never doubt iwa’s dumb luck," Siflin said. "But the problem is, I can only identify male and female at best. I can’t confirm if it’s them unless they speak voluntarily."
"That’s probably what the mastermind hopes for," Hanna remarked. "To gain power, one must stand against everyone, even fighting friends and family."
Siflin said, "What if it really is them and we can’t recognize them? What if, instead of helping them, we join in the pursuit against them?"
"You’d better pray that’s not the case. If it is, it’s purgatory for them, as we’d be none the wiser," Hanna said as she leapt off the high building, grabbing a fluttering flag and sliding down.
"But for them, it would be purgatory."
...
...
The door was torn apart by two swords. Outside, swords whirled in chaotic attacks. Ash had no choice but to retreat defensively, making way for the intruder.
The wooden door shattered, debris flew, and Ash shielded Filly behind him, watching the valiant Red-haired Swordswoman stride into the room.
They locked eyes, their minds racing, but when Ash opened his mouth, not a sound ca out. All the silent words could only be conveyed through his gaze.
"Inside!"
The pursuing mages also burst in. The long spear thrust blocked Sonia at the door. The wind howled, and the spear fired like thunder, revealing it to be a Holy Domain Gun Master. With a frosty killing intent on her face, the Red-haired Swordswoman’s sword looped back to sever the spearhead, stepping on the shaft and, with a reverse grip, decapitated the Gun Master in an instant!
Pop!
Seizing the mont, Ash picked up Filly, crashed through the window and escaped. Just below was a lamp post. He landed on the lamp’s top, cushioning his fall from the third floor, spinning twice in mid-air to land steadily. Sneaking into the alleyway before the surrounding mages could react.
"Was that Nia just now?" Filly, holding the Holy Grail in both hands, blinked and asked sweetly from Ash’s arms. "But she doesn’t quite look like her..."
"She’s Sword Maiden."
"So that was Sword Maiden... huh!? She’s Sword Maiden? Sword Maiden and Nia look alike? No wonder you were interested in Nia from the start, it was because she resembled Sword Maiden, so you projected your feelings for Sword Maiden onto her!"
"I didn’t use Nia as a substitute!"
"But your initial fondness for Nia was surely because of Sword Maiden, right?" Filly blinked. "If Sword Maiden was your lover from scratch, then Nia stood on Sword Maiden’s shoulders to steal your heart. I’m not blaming you, just saying Nia had a bit of an advantage..."
"Nia didn’t steal my heart..."
"Really? Then why is it that when you have physical contact with Nia, you get all embarrassed, while she gets shy and backs away?"
"Nia definitely just shook off my hand in anger, right?"
"But you didn’t deny your embarrassnt. What happened between you and Nia? Tell !"
Ash blinked. "Filly, you’ve suddenly beco very assertive..."
"Maybe it’s because eye contact is so fast, usually I have to think through my words. Do you dislike being so assertive?"
"Not really, I just think it’s interesting. It feels like you’re more confident now."
"I’ve always been this confident! Stop changing the subject, what exactly happened with Nia? Did you kiss? No, you must have had physical contact... Maybe even connected?"
Ash nearly stumbled, amused and exasperated. "No, I won’t say! Filly, you’re quite different today; I didn’t know you had such a bold side inside you!"
"Changing the subject again... Hmph, I’ll let you off this ti," Filly blinked. "But since Sword Maiden is right behind, why don’t you recognize her?"
"She can’t recognize us now, and I can’t speak."
"Then write!"
"We’re being hunted, when do we have the ti for that?"
"Is it really that you can’t recognize her?" Filly gazed at Ash, "Or is it that you don’t want to recognize her?"
Ash was montarily stunned, shaking his head. "I always knew that, while you don’t often express opinions, you’re keenly aware of many things."
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