Chapter 54: My sister is the best!

The first ray of morning sunlight spilled over the clouds, illuminating Dawnlight City.

Sylvia lay in bed, savoring a rare moment of peace.

Last night’s events had only reinforced one truth—

Never wander off recklessly.

“Knock knock knock.”

The door was knocked on.

“Sis, someone’s here to fight you!”

Avira’s excited voice came from outside, tinged with anticipation.

Sylvia snapped awake instantly.

A fight?

She immediately sat up in bed.

Her silver hair fell messily against her cheek.

Avira pushed the door open.

Excitement burned brightly in her eyes.

“That guy, the captain of the Judgment Sword.”

“Bartholomew, he said he wants to have a friendly duel with us.”

“Friendly duel?”

Sylvia blinked, her eyes full of confusion.

“Why fight at all?”

“He said he wants to demonstrate the power of the Holy Radiance Alliance.”

“To better protect you.”

Avira sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to smooth Sylvia’s disheveled silver hair.

“But honestly, I think he just wants to intimidate us.”

“Th-then… let’s not fight.”

Sylvia spoke weakly.

She hated conflict above all.

“Can’t we just get along peacefully?”

“No way!”

Avira’s excitement grew even more obvious.

Her eyes sparkled with determination.

“It’s not every day we get a worthy opponent.”

“How could I possibly miss out?”

Just then, Ophelia pushed open the door.

“Someone has issued a challenge.”

“Mother, I’ve already agreed.”

Avira said impatiently.

“And I specifically asked for the strongest one to fight me.”

Sylvia instinctively grabbed Avira’s sleeve.

“Sis, please don’t fight, I’m scared.”

Her voice was so quiet she barely heard it herself.

Avira misunderstood her.

Thinking her sister was worried about her losing.

“Don’t worry.”

Avira stroked Sylvia’s silver hair.

Her tone was gentle but carried a dangerous edge.

“I’ll be very careful.”

“I promise I won’t kill him—at most, just beat him half to death.”

Sylvia: “…..”

That did not sound reassuring at all!

“Be a good little sister and cheer me on.”

Avira kissed her on the cheek.

“Aren’t you curious to see how strong I am?”

“Today, I’ll show you.”

Sylvia wanted to refuse.

But seeing Avira’s enthusiastic expression, she could only nod helplessly.

“Th-then… sis, be careful.”

At ten in the morning.

The sprawling training arena of the annex.

The entire area covered thousands of square meters.

The ground was paved with special blue stone.

Surrounded by towering grandstands for spectators.

The Holy Radiance Alliance’s higher-ups had long since taken their seats, their expressions varying.

Sylvia was held by Ophelia, sitting on the most honored dais.

She wore an elegant pale blue gown.

Her silver hair tied into a neat side ponytail with a delicate hairband.

She felt countless eyes fixed on her, making her deeply uncomfortable.

“Mother, can I not sit here?”

She whispered to Ophelia.

“No, Sylvia.”

Ophelia replied.

“You are the witness of this duel.”

Sylvia’s little face fell.

Being put on display like this felt like public execution.

At the center of the arena.

Bartholomew and Avira stood opposite each other.

Bartholomew wore shining silver-white full heavy armor.

He held a massive two-handed greatsword.

Holy light surged from within him.

Behind his back, a pair of glowing wing-shaped shadows coalesced.

The surrounding air began to warp slightly.

“Princess Avira, please do not hold back just because I am human.”

Bartholomew’s voice was loud and clear.

“I will fight you with my full strength.”

Avira lazily drew her sword, “Wail.”

The blade was jet black.

Its edges shimmered with a faint blood-red glow.

She didn’t release any pressure at all.

Just stood there casually.

“Are you sure you want me to go all out?”

Avira licked her lips.

A dangerous smile appeared on her face.

“I’m afraid I might make you cry.”

A flicker of anger flashed in Bartholomew’s eyes.

This vampire was far too arrogant!

“Very well!”

No sooner had he spoken.

Bartholomew launched the first attack.

His greatsword raised high above his head.

Holy light poured wildly into the blade.

It began to shine with a dazzling white radiance.

“Here, I pronounce judgment!”

“Collide!”

The greatsword slashed down.

A blazing white sword aura over ten meters long roared forward.

Where the sword aura passed, the air was torn apart.

A sharp tearing sound split the silence.

The humans in the grandstands gasped sharply.

The power of this strike could cleave a mountain!

Yet Avira didn’t even move.

When the sword aura came within three meters of her, she only shifted her body slightly.

The sword aura hissed past her body.

Behind her, a deep groove was gouged into the ground.

The blue stone slabs were cut with perfect precision.

“Too slow.”

Avira’s voice was light and carefree.

She even had time to wink at Sylvia’s direction.

Sylvia saw her sister safe and sound.

Her heart finally eased a little.

Bartholomew’s face changed.

She dodged too easily.

She didn’t take his attack seriously at all!

“Again!”

He stomped his foot on the ground.

His entire body turned into a silver-white streak, charging at Avira.

His greatsword swung continuously.

Each strike carried the power of the Judgment Flame.

Sword light flashed wildly.

Holy light danced.

The entire arena was illuminated by the blazing white glow.

Avira leisurely dodged through the rain of sword strikes.

Each step was perfectly measured.

No matter how fierce Bartholomew’s attacks were, none could graze even the hem of her clothing.

The humans in the grandstands grew increasingly alarmed.

This vampire’s movement was eerily unpredictable.

She managed to evade perfectly even in moments of imminent danger.

“Impossible!”

Cold sweat appeared on Bartholomew’s forehead.

He was already using seventy percent of his strength.

But the opponent moved as if on a casual stroll.

Avira stopped moving.

Tilting her head, she looked at him.

“That’s all you’ve got?”

Before the words finished,

her figure vanished in an instant.

Bartholomew’s pupils constricted sharply.

He hadn’t even clearly seen how she disappeared!

Only a faint blood-red afterimage lingered in the air.

***

The next moment, a cold voice sounded behind him.

“Too slow.”

Bartholomew turned sharply.

Only to find Avira already behind him.

With a precise elbow strike, Avira struck the center of his back.

A surge of force exploded instantly.

“What the—oh no—!”

Bartholomew let out a sharp yet comical scream.

His whole body flew straight up dozens of meters.

Then arced through the air.

He crashed heavily onto the far side of the arena.

A cloud of dust erupted.

The entire place fell silent.

Everyone’s eyes were wide open.

Their mouths agape wide enough to fit a Kun Egg.

They stared incredulously at the dramatic scene.

The captain of the Judgment Sword… just got elbowed and flung away like that?

And he screamed so… unique?

Bartholomew lay in a human-shaped pit.

His full heavy armor dented in many places.

He felt as if all his bones were about to shatter.

What was even more terrifying was—

In that instant, he had felt what it meant to be crushed by absolute power.

The force the opponent unleashed—enough to instantly obliterate him to dust!

Avira withdrew her elbow.

Licking her lips with some lingering interest.

Her expression was slightly disappointed.

“Too boring.”

“I was hoping for a bit of a warm-up.”

She turned around, bouncing happily toward Sylvia.

“Sis, am I awesome?”

Sylvia saw her sister return unscathed.

Her blood-red eyes sparkled with happiness.

“You’re the strongest, sis.”

Her voice was soft.

Filled with obvious admiration.

In her heart, her sister was the strongest.

Upon hearing this, Avira’s face lit up with a brilliant smile.

Her earlier disappointment vanished in an instant.

“Of course!”

“No one in the entire world can harm my little sister!”

Sylvia nodded obediently.

Reaching out with a small hand to hug Avira’s arm.

The familiar scent on her sister reassured her.

The humans in the grandstands exchanged glances.

Shocked into silence.

They had expected this duel to showcase the Holy Radiance Alliance’s power to the vampires.

Instead, they were crushed in a way that was both devastating and somewhat humiliating.

Uther the Seventh watched the scene, his fanaticism burning even brighter.

“As expected!”

“The guardians around the Saint Body are all this powerful!”

“This only proves her divine status even more!”

Sylvia listened to the pope’s muttering.

Helplessly rolling her eyes in her mind.

Why does everything have to be about her?

What does her sister’s strength have to do with her?