Athena didnât ask much and followed Chen Rui to an open space.
âAthena, if you were to face Culia again, do you have the confidence to win?â
Athenaâs eyes were full of confidence, âI have absolute confidence to defeat him!â
âGood.â Chen Rui moved backward a few steps to distant from her, âThen, use your sword to attack me at full strength now.ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âWhat?â Athena thought she misheard.
âDidnât you do such a thing when I was outside the camp?â Chen Ruiâs words made Athena blushed with embarrassment. âNow, letâs get started! This time, I wonât be like the last time.â
With Athenaâs current strength, she should be a good sparring opponent which allowed him to measure his actual strength accurately.
Athena glanced at him with hesitation and took out a greatsword from the space bracelet. Under Chen Ruiâs encouraging eyes, she finally attacked, but unfortunately, it wasnât lethal.
âIf you want to help me, be serious.â Chen Rui grabbed and pinched the tip of the sword. He shook his head and deactivated his passive ability, to show his strength at the Mizar state.
Athenaâs pupils shrank slightly. This level of strength is actually the level of Higher Demon! Besides... itâs even above Culia at that time!â
The powerless, weak human a few months ago has actually improved to the level that can almost rival me!
Although she heard Dodo actively exposing the incidents before, so she already had some mental preparations. When Athena actually felt the strength by herself, she still couldnât help to reveal her shock and ask the guess that she had been keeping in her heart for a long time, âChen Rui, is this the grand masterâs...â
Crossing over and Super System were his biggest secrets, so Chen Rui didnât intend to disclose to anyone. The grand masterâs inheritance that was used in emergency at the beginning could be used as a substitute nicely as it was also justifiable theoretically. He smiled and asked, âShouldnât a smart girl keep her promise?â
Athena was rarely praised as âsmartâ, especially bu Chen Rui, so she felt sweet in her heart. She recalled that she just promised that she wouldnât ask any questions, so she kept all her extra thoughts. She took a deep breath and an intimidating demeanor emerged. She turend the greatsword and swept. Chen Rui dodged the greatsword at lightning speed and went to her side to punched toward her.
Athena hurriedly retracted her sword; the punch hit on the back of the sword and muffled sound rang. She only felt that a surging, violent force came one after another and she almost couldnât hold the sword in her hands tight. She was shocked and staggered backward with her eyes flashed with surprise.
âAs I said, get serious.â Chen Rui knew that Athena was still afraid of hurting him, so he added, âCulia had already died in my hands the other day...â
Athena was shocked. Culia actually died in the hands of Chen Rui a few days ago!
She put away her sword, lowered her head, looking like she was hesitating. Finally, she seemed to have made up her mind. Flame appeared on her body, her skin turned pale red and a pair of curved horns appeared on her head, âIs this the âseriousâ you want?â
Immediately after Chen Rui nodded, he saw that Athena, who just lowered her head had disappeared on the spot and a sharp wind came whistling from his back. Chen Rui had repeatedly encountered this type of attack where the opponent teleport to his back to attack, so he was prepared. He turned around and avoided. While she missed her attack, he punched toward her. However, Athenaâs sword didnât stopped; it turned and sliced upward. She indeed didnât hesitate at all.
Chen Rui didnât expect her moves to change so fast. If he didnât retract his hand fast enough, his wrist wouldâve been cut by the sword.
After the training with 8-fold gravity, Chen Ruiâs speed made a significant leap. He attacked again after sidestepped the attack. As the greatsword wasnât suitable for close combat, Athena withdrew her sword and parried. The surging force made the thick sword trembled. Chen Rui repeatedly attacked as if his pair of hands seemed to become a few pairs. Athena felt like her body was in a stormy waves as even the demonic fire on her body was shaken by this tremendous force.
Her combat experience was very rich. After blocking the attack, she decisively spun her body and guided her greatsword to strike toward Chen Rui with the surgeâs power.
Chen Rui didnât expect Athena to have such a move. He quickly jumped and distant himself. A long mark was sliced on the ground with the greatsword touching the ground. Athena didnât hold back as she immediately teleported to his side and struck forcefully again.
Next to the cabin, a translucent long arm extended to the pile of fruits that Athena picked up today. It grabbed one, slowly retracted to the front of a onion-head, threw it into his mouth, chewed and swallowed leisurely.
This time, finally there wasnât anyone to stop Sir Slime from enjoying delicacies.
Looking at the two distant figures crossing against each other repeatedly in loud noises, Dodo who was bored yawned and concluded, âBoring man and boring woman. Boring master and mistress. Itâs truly a boring morning.â
A few hours later, Chen Rui sat down and panted. Athena was also leaned against the tree at the side. Her rosy face was dripping with sweat and her towering chest was undulating. Her hand was holding one part of a broken sword. The other part was on the ground with a smooth cut, as if it was cut by a sharp weapon.
âThe skill from grand masterâs inheritance is truly wondrous. What is the skill that you used your hand to cut off my sword called?â
â. Culia was killed with this skill.â Chen Rui said an apologetic expression, âIâm sorry that I broke your greatsword. Yet, I thought about it when you battled with Culia the last time that you need a better sword. I will definitely give you a good sword in the future.â
Iâm not sure if the exchange center can redeem weapons and armors in the future. If it can, I must help Athena exchange for a set of godly artifacts or sword.
âEn.â Athena was rejoiced in her heart. Suddenly, she hesitated for a moment and took out her courage to said after a while, âI still want a dagger. Something light and easy to carry will do. This dagger actually...â
It was the first time that Athena took the initiative to make a request, so Chen Rui clearly wouldnât refuse. Seeing her hesitating to say something and feeling embarrassed, he quickly said, âNo problem!â
Hmph! Athena suddenly stared at him. She seemed to be unhappy about his interruption of what she was going to say next and walked away furiously.
Chen Rui was stunned for a moment as he didnât know what he had said wrong again. Surely, as a sage once said, women were truly unpredictable creatures.
Athena didnât talk to him until lunch.
Chen Rui handed over a stick of barbecue and extended his other hand to block Dodo, who wanted to grab the food, âAthena, if youâre still not talking, Iâll leave?â
âHmph!â Athena replied coldly and and took the barbecue.
âIâm serious, Athena. I need to be away for a while. As the time is tight, I need to leave soon.â
Time was indeed tight as he wasnât only going to Town Leia, but he also had to go back to the Dark Moon City directly to fight Arux.
Athena was shocked and finally asked, âWhere are you going?â
Chen Rui didnât answer and said, âAthena, can you go back to the Dark Moon City? Within half a month, Iâll definitely go to see you.â
âYou want to face danger alone again? Dodo told me a lot of things that youâve secretly done!â Athena suddenly got a little annoyed and stood up. âWhy canât you take me with you? Do you take me as a useless woman like a decorative vase?â
Chen Rui glared at Dodo ruthlessly. This time the slime couldnât deny, so the onion-head made two hands that covered his eyes: I canât see you; I canât see you...
Chen Rui shook his head gently, âAthena, in my heart, youâre definitely not a vase. Exactly because you arenât, you should know that a lot of battles in life must be faced alone. I can promise you that if the conditions allow, we will fight together in the future. So, can you promise me to go back to the Dark Moon City to wait for me?â Athena lowered her eyes and said, âI know that youâre concern of my safety, but...â
âI want to stay here to help the miners, okay?â
Chen Rui knew that she was worried about the suffering miners. Moreover, the danger at the mines was greatly reduced and the leader of the Red Devils wouldnât return for the time being. Also, the few heads of the bandits like Culia were already eliminated and he was going to deal with the remaining Barnacle at Town Leia. Thus, Athena should have no problem here.
âThe bandits are now at Mountain Walan. For the time being, donât have any conflict with them. If youâre here, they wouldnât dare to harass the miners.â Chen Rui thought about it and said, âIâll leave Kegu here for you.â You can bring the miners back to Mountain Xilangâs residential area to stay, but you absolutely canât enter the main pit.â
Athena nodded. Chen Rui turned his eyes to the slime who was peeking through the gaps of his hand. Then, he gave the space ring that he looted from Culia to Athena and said to Dodo, âDodo, stay here to help Athena. Iâve put the dragon bone inside of the space ring so you can pose as ghost dragon when necessary. If Athena has any damage, I wonât forgive you! â
Dodo heard the sternness of his masterâs words and quickly nodded with his hands covering his eyes.
âGood.â Chen Rui stood up and said, âIâm leaving. Athena, remember to protect yourself.â
âBefore I came to the Dark Moon, my father once said this to me and Iâll say this to you now.â Athena took a few steps forward and stared at him sentimentally, âAlthough youâre fighting alone, but youâre not alone.â
The eyes are the windows to the soul. Chen Rui looked at the pair of beautiful red eyes, he felt her feelings for him entirely in the blink of an eye. It wasnât like the blurry and faintly discernible feeling like before.
Yes, Iâm not alone.
In this position after rebirthing, in this sinister and strange Demon Realm, I am no longer alone.
Chen Rui couldnât suppress the strong impulse in his heart, so he went forward and held Athena tightly in his arms.
Athenaâs body trembled a little. From the man coming forward to when he hugged, she obviously couldâve avoided, but she didnât. Her strength as a Higher Demon approaching its peak disappeared without a trace for no reason and she had to rely on his strength from the hug to support her soft body.
The two listened to each otherâs heartbeats as if the entire Demon Realmâs time had stood still, leaving only the warm embrace and the fiery heartbeat.
After a long time, Chen Rui finally let go of his hand. Just now, Athena was immersed in the wonderful feeling that she had never experienced before and she didnât feel particularly shy. Now that she was stared by his bright eyes, she suddenly lowered her head and didnât dare to look at him; heat was spreading from her cheeks to her ears.
âWait for me to come back.â
After Chen Rui said that, he strode forward to Mengda without hesitation, mounted on the wyvern and flew away.
If he stayed any longer, he was afraid that he couldnât leave this warm cabin.
There were still many unknowns and dangerous tests ahead waiting for him, but at that moment, Chen Ruiâs heart was full of unprecedented confidence.