STAR Anise didn’t feel the expected plunging of her hand to a soft underbelly. Instead, what she felt was a very hard surface. She looked down and saw that her attack was met by Dragnar’s sword. She didn’t even manage to scratch the other’s skin, much less his stomach. And she at that moment that she needed to get away from the other.

  The wound Dragnar had inflicted on her was already healing, her dwindling HP was also being slowly filled. It’s because after she was stabbed, she immediately casted a healing skill.

  The mist around them would soon be gone. And she was certain that whatever skill the other used to protect himself from the mist would also soon lose its effect. She just needed to get away and heal completely. Then, their match could begin its new round.

  And so, she jumped back with all her strength. But Dragnar seemed to be already expecting that because he quickly caught up to her, blazing sword and all. She knew that the other wouldn’t just let her recuperate silently and would continue to attack her until she was defeated.

  That’s why she didn’t hesitate to use the skill that had something to do with her being a dryad. It was actually not so much as a skill but a trait that belonged to their race. Before Dragnar’s sword could reach her, she was immediately surrounded by a tree bark. That continued on until the tree bark became a tree and she remained inside.

  Being inside the tree would heal him much faster. But she knew that her opponent could easily set this tree ablaze. That’s why she used her barrier once again. This was the last time she could use her barrier. That meant that she needed to quickly finish this match as soon as she finished healing.

  The inside of the tree was warm and comfortable, almost like being soaked in a warm bath. She could feel the wound on her stomach closing at a fast speed. At the same time, her HP was also returning to normal.

  She was thinking what action to do next when she suddenly felt a bit hot. She ignored it at first. But after one, two seconds, the heat became almost unbearable. And she just knew something went wrong.

  Before she could think of what was happening, she saw a tip of the sword slashing across the tree bark and of course, inside it. The blade was about to pass through her. In a moment of panic, she jumped away from the blade. Because of her unconscious want to get away, the tree bark opened on its own and she was able to move back.

  But she didn’t have time to breath a sigh of relief because the sword followed her, completely cutting the tree in half. Then, followed by that sword, was the tall dragon with blazing golden hair. Behind him was a sea of golden flames. For some reason, she couldn’t help but think how beautiful this scene was.

  And just like that, she felt a sharp pinched in her chest. She didn’t need to look down to know that the other had already stabbed her. A wry smile crossed her lips, this was the end, huh?

  She looked at Dragnar, her avatar slowly turning to light particles. "It seems our dear dragon is not someone who knows how to pity jade."

  "On the battlefield, everyone is equal," the golden dragon said, pulling out his sword.

  Star Anise chuckled at that. "That’s a pretty good way to promote equality."

  Then, before her avatar completely turned into light particles, she leaned over closed enough that they would almost look like they’re kissing if one saw them from a different angle.

  "I hope we can meet again after this, Mr. Dragon of Equality."

  Xia Lei was startled. But before he could react, the other had already disappeared from the stage.

  And a deafening cheer was heard all across the coliseum.

  The Duke of Hearts flew down once again on the almost ruined rink. He glided over to where Xia Lei was standing.

  "What was that that this lord just saw?" the duke asked with a teasing smile. "Did she just kiss you?"

  Because of the other’s question, Xia Lei remembered again just how close Star Anise was to him earlier before her avatar vanished. He felt his cheeks heating up. He didn’t know if he should feel annoyed or embarrassed. Just what was that girl thinking? Anyway, what’s important right now was to clear this misunderstanding.

  "She didn’t! She just said something up close."

  "Ooohhh…… is that so?" the duke said, giving him a look as if silently saying ’yeah, as if I’d believe your bullshit’.

  Xia Lei’s cheeks felt even hotter. And he knew his face had probably turned into that annoying shade of red. Again, from annoyance or embarrassment, he wasn’t really sure.

  "Just announce me as the winner," he said in a kind of abrupt manner. Then, he quickly added just in case this temperamental duke thought he was being disrespectful, "Please."

  "Tch. Fine," the duke said, rolling his eyes at him. "The winner of the sixth match – Dragnar!"

  And the cheers of the audience erupted once again.

  Xia Lei was then transferred to the winners’ suite.

  Appearing there, he was immediately welcomed by the gaze of four of the five people inside. He wasn’t sure if he was just being hypersensitive, but it felt like they were giving him the same looks as the duke. He almost shouted ’she didn’t kiss me!’ out of reflex.

  Xia Lei shook his head and just sat on the nearest couch before turning his attention to the heart-shaped virtual screen floating in the room.

  The two participants of the next match were already walking on the rink. One was a panther beastkin while the other appeared to be human, as he didn’t have any characteristics that showed otherwise. What was noticeable about him was that he was wearing some sort of Japanese traditional clothing known as hakama.

  "The seventh match – Winged Tassel versus Black Cat!" the Duke of Hearts announced.