Joining Forces Against a Saint

Among those who still retained their fighting strength, Lira’s cultivation was the closest to the Saint Rank. Logically, he should have gone to support the four friends from ＜Starry Moon Shadow＞.

However, as the Princess’s personal guard, he also bore the heavy responsibility of protecting Lian. Especially now that Ryan had unfortunately fallen in battle, Lian’s safety had become the top priority, leaving him in a difficult dilemma.

“What are you doing just standing there? Go and help them already!” Lian seemed to see through the hesitation in Lira’s heart. She slapped his arm urgently and spoke with haste.

“But, Your Highness, you...”

“No more ‘buts’! I’ll find a safe place to hide! If Brother Starlight and the others lose, none of us will escape! Don’t you understand?” After saying this, Lian gave Lira a reassuring look and quickly followed the retreating crowd, disappearing from the ruined streets.

In that moment, Lira’s gaze instantly became firm. Watching Lian’s retreating figure, he called out in a low but determined voice, “Your Highness, I shall not fail you!”

With that, he unsheathed the longsword at his waist, turned resolutely, and charged toward the battle.

At this moment, Po Kong and Ming Ye were locked in a fierce struggle. Po Kong heard the sound of rushing wind as a slender figure joined the fray from the side.

Upon seeing who it was, Po Kong couldn’t help but be startled. While parrying the scythe swung by Ming Ye, he asked, “What are you doing here? Don’t you need to stay by your Princess’s side?”

Lira merely furrowed his brows. He swung his sword at Ming Ye, temporarily forcing him back, and replied, “It was Her Highness who ordered me to come! If you lose, everyone is doomed!”

“Ha? Do I look like someone who loses easily to you? I haven’t even had my fill of fighting this old man yet!” After hearing the explanation, Po Kong actually looked somewhat displeased, as if he hadn't enjoyed himself enough.

However, Lira merely glanced at him indifferently and continued, “Well, I haven’t seen you take him down yet. What’s the difference between not winning and losing?”

“Tsk... You really don’t know how to talk! Can’t you say something more encouraging?”

Po Kong clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction, but he knew Lira was right. Although he could rely on his War God battle qi to hold his own against Ming Ye for a short time, truly defeating him was no easy task.

During his confrontation with Ming Ye, Po Kong had maintained a balanced sword-and-shield strategy. While this ensured his own safety, it lacked the offensive power necessary to secure a victory.

If he were given some time to charge up, he might be able to break the stalemate. But how could a Saint Rank opponent like Ming Ye, who excelled in speed, ever give him the chance to charge?

If his War God battle qi were to run dry, his defeat would happen in an instant.

“Do you have any other moves? If not, then attack with me! By joining forces, we might find a slim chance of victory!” Seeing Po Kong’s lukewarm reaction, Lira couldn’t help but ask anxiously.

“I do! But you have to hold him off for one minute. I need time to charge!” Po Kong responded quickly, nodding to Lira.

Lira swung his sword violently into the air, parrying Ming Ye’s sharp blade by a hair’s breadth. He growled in a low voice, “You really like making things difficult! Fine, I’ll do my best to buy you that time!”

Since Lira had not been included in the soul link by Noah, their conversation—which wasn't exactly quiet—was heard clearly by Ming Ye.

This made him feel severely underestimated. The veins on his forehead bulged as he roared, “You two arrogant brats! How dare you look down on me? I won’t give you any chance to charge. I’ll have your lives within half a minute!”

With that, he swung his giant scythe again. Powerful battle qi dyed the blade a blood-like red. Bolstered by this energy, his already incredible speed increased by another thirty percent. Like a bolt of red lightning, he lunged straight for Po Kong.

But before his scythe could fall, Lira, who was already prepared, blocked the attack once again.

A violent shockwave erupted the moment they clashed, grinding the ruins beneath their feet into powder. Ming Ye’s scorching fire-attribute battle qi incinerated the debris in mid-air, turning it into black ash.

At this moment, Lira’s body glowed with a strange and unique light, which was vastly different from the power he usually unleashed.

Although the quality of his battle qi didn't seem to have changed, he had solidly blocked a full-power strike from a Saint Rank powerhouse like Ming Ye.

Now, not only Po Kong, but even Ming Ye felt a trace of astonishment. This strike had used ten-tenths of his power—why was it blocked so easily?

“What trickery are you using?!” Ming Ye shifted his body, kicking Lira away as he glared and asked fiercely.

A flicker of unnatural redness passed over Lira’s handsome face. He smiled slightly, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. “I am under no obligation to answer you. If you’re curious, why don’t you try guessing?”

Ming Ye narrowed his eyes. His scythe traced a graceful arc in the air, accompanied by a crescent-shaped wave of red battle qi that whistled outward.

To Ming Ye’s surprise, Lira showed no intention of retreating. He charged straight ahead to meet the sharp attack.

Amidst a series of crisp metallic clangs, Ming Ye’s attack was once again steadily parried by Lira. The cost was merely a slight stumble back by two steps.

One must understand that in the face of an absolute gap in rank, even Po Kong—protected by his War God battle qi—would not dare to casually take a full-power strike from a veteran Saint Rank expert. Yet Lira had blocked Ming Ye’s attacks twice in a row. It was simply unbelievable.

As the personal guard of the Night Elf Princess, while Lira lacked a special physique or extraordinary power, it was impossible for him not to have a few trump cards.

The power he was currently unleashing used his life force as a medium to forcibly enter a reinforced state called Super Sense.

In this unique state, while his base strength did not increase significantly, his sensory acuity and reaction speed soared to an astonishing level that rivaled a Saint Rank powerhouse.

Facing Ming Ye’s previous two fierce assaults, it was precisely through this extraordinary perception that he accurately captured the flaws in the opponent’s attacks. He had struck first to neutralize the moves before they could fully unfold.

Those two seemingly invincible attacks had actually been neutralized by Lira’s clever methods. Even Ming Ye himself had not noticed anything unnatural about it.

However, this skill was a dangerous secret forbidden technique, even within the Night Elf tribe.

After using it only twice, Lira felt a wave of intense dizziness. It felt as if countless tiny needles were darting through his mind, causing unbearable pain.

But this risky gamble had successfully confused the naturally suspicious Ming Ye, winning precious time for Po Kong and perfectly achieving their goal.

Taking advantage of the moment Ming Ye spent in silent contemplation in the air, Lira turned his head slightly, his peripheral vision catching Po Kong behind him.

At this moment, Po Kong had already fused his sword and shield into a massive double-edged sword.

He stood silently on the spot, his eyes closed. The golden battle qi that had been radiating outward was slowly withdrawing back into his body. Yet, the aura emanating from him became increasingly terrifying, like a giant beast about to awaken, gathering its strength for a strike.