Lina swung her Heavy Sword, but her peripheral vision never left Anya’s side.
Tarik had already entered Half-Dragonization; the scales glinted coldly under the light, making him look extremely troublesome.
“There’s a bit of a problem,” she muttered, frowning slightly as her gaze shifted to Kamila.
The other party had yet to assume her Half-Dragonization form. But if she could as well, wouldn’t that make her exceptionally hard to deal with?
“You can Half-Dragonize too?” Lina asked casually as she blocked another attack.
“Unfortunately, I’m not there yet,” Kamila shook her head. “Right now, in our tribe, only Tarik has that ability.”
“That’s really disappointing.” Lina curled her lips.
Half-Dragonization was, in the end, a matter of talent. Some Dragonkin awakened early, while others had to wait for years. Kamila clearly belonged to the latter.
“You should worry more about the other side. I’m afraid your subordinate won’t last much longer,” Kamila said flatly.
“If I wanted to intervene, do you think you could stop me?” Lina replied with a dismissive laugh, though her swordplay never slowed.
Kamila didn’t respond, only focusing intently on defending against Lina’s fierce assault.
Both of them knew well that if either dared to get distracted and interfere in the other battlefield, the situation would immediately spiral out of control, and casualties would only increase.
The best strategy was to keep each other tightly occupied.
But if Tarik managed to break the stalemate first, the balance would quickly tip toward the Holy Knights.
Although Lina was confident of winning this fight, her subordinates would inevitably suffer heavy losses, and she couldn’t guarantee Anya’s safety.
With this in mind, the optimal solution was to take down Kamila as quickly as possible.
As Tarik knocked Murray unconscious, that area was instantly swallowed by Ice Mist, making it impossible to see anything.
“What is Anya up to?” Lina muttered in confusion.
“It’s disrespectful to your opponent to be distracted in battle.” Kamila seized the opening and threw a punch, clearly aiming to catch Lina off guard.
Lina just curled her lips, sidestepped with ease, and then slammed her Heavy Sword into Kamila’s chest.
Kamila was sent flying hundreds of meters and crashed heavily to the ground.
“With that speed, you expect me to go all out?” she shouted, her tone full of mockery.
Despite her words, Lina was troubled.
Kamila’s body was simply too tough.
She could suppress her the entire time, but every time Kamila was sent flying, she’d just get up after a few seconds, patting herself down like an indestructible cockroach.
“I really should’ve learned more large-scale destructive magic,” she sighed.
Most of the magic she knew was for supporting combat skills; hitting Kamila with them was like scratching an itch—completely ineffective.
“Again!” Kamila pushed herself off the ground once more, blood at the corner of her mouth, body trembling, but still refusing to give in.
It looked like this Chief of Dragonkin was reaching her limit.
Lina raised her sword again and slashed. A wave of Golden Battle Aura shot out, and Kamila, unable to react in time, was sent flying once again.
Seizing the momentum, Lina pressed her advantage, closing the distance and delivering several more strikes before Kamila could fully stand up.
“Can’t even keep your balance, yet you’re still holding on?” Lina kept taunting.
“We Dragonkin never lose.” Kamila wiped the blood from her mouth and suddenly smiled. “You actually care a lot about that Blue-Haired Girl, don’t you? If something happens to her, what would you do?”
Lina’s expression changed dramatically, but she didn’t reply.
“Looks like I was right.” Kamila’s smile grew brighter. “I already ordered Tarik to capture the Blue-Haired Girl alive. Now, do I have the right to win this battle?”
“You really are cunning,” Lina sneered. “I thought Dragonkin were just brainless brutes.”
“Flattered,” Kamila replied indifferently. “You humans are always shackled by your feelings.”
“But what if, before your people succeed, I capture you first?” Lina gripped her Heavy Sword tighter, her gaze sharp. “I don’t believe your subordinates would just watch you die.”
“Oh?” Kamila burst into laughter. “You’ve tangled with me for so long, and now you want to take me down in one move? Are you kidding me?”
“I’m not joking, Kamila.” Lina shrugged helplessly. In an instant, a cold, murderous aura filled her golden eyes. “I never intended to waste so much energy here, but you just had to get in my way. I’m sorry, but you’ve left me no choice.”
“Then I’d like to see what trump card you have left.” Kamila remained disdainful.
After all this time exchanging blows, she had already gauged Lina’s strength.
Both were at the fifth tier, making it hard to determine a winner. Even if Lina hadn’t shown her full power, Kamila doubted she could pull off anything truly decisive.
As long as Tarik succeeded over there, Lina would have no choice but to surrender and withdraw her people in defeat.
“Huu—” Lina exhaled a breath of white mist. Suddenly, the Golden Battle Aura around her became incomparably sacred, exuding a majesty that could not be profaned.
Kamila saw this and instinctively retreated half a step, the arrogance in her bones suppressed by a growing dread.
“I told you I’d make you lose miserably.” Lina tightened her grip on her Heavy Sword, golden aura coiling around it. Behind her, a vague golden phantom began to take shape.
It looked like a woman with closed eyes, hands gently raised, her bearing solemn and awe-inspiring, making everyone want to lower their voices, even their breathing subdued.
Lina slowly raised her Heavy Sword. The Golden Battle Aura surged forth, transforming into a Golden Giant Sword that blotted out the sky, floating in midair.
“Wha…what is that aura?” Kamila’s pupils contracted as she stared at the massive sword. For the first time, true fear of death welled up inside her.
If she tried to take this strike head-on, she’d die for sure! Swallowing hard, she couldn’t help but take a few more steps back.
“Scared?” Lina looked at her calmly. “If this strike lands, your life will be over.”
Both sides’ forces had already noticed the commotion. They stopped what they were doing, all gazing at the awe-inspiring Golden Giant Sword in the sky. For a moment, no one dared to make a sound.
“The Holy Knight Commander is going all out… But once this move is unleashed, I fear…” one Holy Knight murmured, his voice filled with worry.
“Damn it…” Kamila’s brows knitted tightly as she cast an urgent look toward the Ice Mist.
Just then, Tarik’s voice rang out from within: “I found her, Lady Kamila!”
Lina’s movements froze, her attention instantly drawn as she stared into the depths of the Ice Mist.
“Looks like the Blue-Haired Girl has been caught. Think carefully—if I die, she dies too. Do you still want to continue, Lina?” Although Kamila’s legs trembled, she laughed loudly.
Lina’s face flickered with uncertainty. How could she possibly abandon Anya?
“You humans are always shackled by your feelings.” Seeing Lina hesitate, Kamila’s confidence swelled. “This battle is already lost for you.”
After a while, the Ice Mist gradually dispersed. Tarik’s figure appeared, and behind him stood the faint outline of a girl.
“Lord Tarik!”
Seeing Lina so indecisive, the Dragonkin erupted into cheers. It seemed Tarik had found Lina’s weakness.
But in the next instant, all their cheers abruptly ceased, and the entire field fell into a deathly silence.