NOVPUBOn the snowfield known as the Land of Perpetual Night in the northern continent, at midnight, a strange spectacle was unfolding.
Usually engulfed in a lengthy darkness, with stars twinkling and moonlight spilling, only silvery light would cast shadows on the snow-covered land.
Suddenly, the edges of the fluttering snowflakes began to sparkle, as if countless golden stars were descending upon the earth.
The light gradually became brighter, and it was not the cold silver-white, but a warm golden hue.
These points of light slowly spread, diffusing and converging into a dazzling sea of light.
The snowfield awoke in this interplay of golden and silver light, rekindled, turning into a dreamlike world where the sun and moon shone together.
Watching the Count of the Blood Clan struggling in the distance, Lanci confirmed that Siegler had closed her eyes and removed his hand from covering them.
He had anticipated the possibility of encountering the Blood Clan in the Land of Perpetual Night and had prepared sunglasses before departing, and of course, he bought an extra pair on the way.
He took out the spare sunglasses from his pocket, and squatted down to put them on Siegler properly.
"Siegler, you can slowly open your eyes now,"
Lanci reminded her.
"..."
Siegler, though she felt it might be very dazzling soon, still opened her eyes at Lanci’s words.
The next second.
All she saw was-
Golden and silver-white light intertwining together, the glow reflecting off the snowflakes, each one resembling a lit miniature lantern.
She reached out in astonishment, touching the snowflakes.
The light continued to spread, and the sky began to exhibit strange and wonderful changes.
The deep blue of the night sky gradually faded away, replaced by a tender orange-yellow tint, as if heralding the dawn’s early light.
What made Siegler breathless was that here, in the Land of Perpetual Night, the sun and the moon were both shining together on the horizon.
"How is it?"
Lanci snapped his fingers lightly, spreading out his left hand for her to admire the snowy landscape,
"I couldn’t prepare a birthday gift for you, so I just did a magic trick on the spot."
Lanci said with a proud smile.
"..."
Siegler’s lips parted lightly, looking around this illusionary world, she had never seen such a sight.
Not even in dreams.
Each snowflake shone with the brilliance of gold and silver, as if magic had been cast upon them.
The shadows of mountains and trees on the snowfield softened and grew mysterious under this unusual illumination, with their outlines clearly defined by the radiance.
"Thank you, Rocky,"
Siegler murmured.
Lanci nodded.
But there was still one thing they had to do.
"Now you should be able to beat him,"
Lanci said, pointing to the Count of the Blood Clan who finally managed to rise up in the distance.
Under the glare of light, Count Gregory’s cloak was coated in a silver-white hue, his already pale skin became as thin as paper, the color of veins showing through, as if a light touch could shatter it.
A vampire count during the day, weakened to just a tenth of his strength, was now subjected to indescribable agony under the sunlight.
Previously, even the Fifth-order Divine Three could brutalize the warrior-type Count Paluocas in the sun-filled Lucent Sanctuary.
This scout-type Count Gregory shouldn’t be a match for Siegler now.
"Hmm."
Siegler snapped back to reality from the snowy scenery, her gaze sharpened as she stared at her enemy.
In broad daylight, she could beat even a Count of the Blood Clan!
Siegler strode through the snow.
Each step was like a hammer striking Count Gregory’s heart.
He tried to discern the enemy’s position but felt as if he had lost his sense of direction.
Then, Siegler’s fist, carrying tremendous power, thundered towards Count Gregory, nearly ripping the air apart.
The moment the fist was about to strike down, Count Gregory’s eyes were still too pained to open; his combat experience led him to crouch down with all his might, protecting his heart and head.
With a boom!
Siegler’s fist struck Count Gregory squarely in the lower back, setting off a deafening sound akin to a metallic collision.
Count Gregory toughed it out with his Seventh-order physical strength, but his form swayed like a small boat in a tsunami, staggering forward before her iron fist pounded him again.
"Ah!"
Count Gregory roared in disbelief.
The proud Wolf Clan that worshipped the Moon Goddess rarely committed dishonorable acts in combat.
He never expected this youngster to be a despicable kidney puncher!
Focusing solely on striking his kidneys.
Shamelessly taking advantage of his current loss of sight!
Siegler’s light footsteps traced across the snowfield, and the intensifying sound of her approach brought a pressure like dark waves, forcing Count Gregory to remain on guard, lost in blindness as his eyes remained shut.
And in the distance, which he couldn’t see at all.
The Great Love Poet already stood like a ghost, her violin flashing a cold light in her hands.
Lanci had Cat Boss with him, and getting hold of some Low-order Musical Instrument Equipment Cards that Great Love Poet desired wasn’t a difficult task.
"Play the ’Hymn to the Moon Goddess’ then,"
Lanci thought for a moment and instructed the Great Love Poet.
"If you go with me to the Demon World, promise to take good care of me."
The Great Love Poet stood silently in the light, her gray hair cascading like a waterfall, and she murmured with closed eyes.
She gently placed a finely crafted Magic Violin on her left shoulder and lightly slid her fingers down the neck to find the perfect position.
"No problem,"
Lanci nodded.
He would definitely need the Great Love Poet in the Demon World anyway.
Usually, besides studying Magical Engineering, the Great Love Poet also had a natural musical talent; she almost instinctively knew how to read sheet music and learn instruments at first touch.
However, for some reason, she seemed to disdain instruments, always aiming to transform them into Magic Devices.
’Goddess of the Moon,’
The Great Love Poet exuded a poised temperament, her red lips parting as time seemed to slow to a graceful pace before her.
’Charming goddess who roams the night,’
Her right hand gracefully gripped the bow, beginning to play the strings.
’In your name, I open my heart,’
As the notes sounded, the Great Love Poet’s voice harmoniously intertwined with the sonorous and deep tones of the violin, spreading over the snowfield.
’Birds that cry in the midnight hour, bathed in your grace, their passion will soar to the heavens,’
’Under the gentle moonlight, we will bear your song through the ages,’
’Comfort, refuge, hope, and love, in our shared world, sustained by prayers to be with you,’
Under the influence of the Great Love Poet’s Demon Sound, Siegler felt invigorated, her punches growing heavier, unleashing a wild and euphoric roar, spraying Count Gregory with blood in a relentless assault.
And Count Gregory’s fury could not be contained.
"Aaaah!"
Count Gregory knew he was deep in disadvantage but still wanted to tear his opponent apart!
"Siegler, I’ll teach you a Boxing Technique, learn as much as you can, it’s up to your intuition,"
Lanci felt Count Gregory was already relishing the fight, so it was time to respond more vigorously to the Earl.
Lanci stood behind Siegler, directing her, patiently imparting the Lan Fist Flow Combat Skills.
Through extensive teaching and research, Lanci had come to realize something.
The pinnacle of spellcasting was boxing.
Basic attacks were simply too strong.
Siegler fought while listening to Lanci’s verbal instruction.
"Understood."
For some reason, after briefly listening just once, she felt she had mastered it, not only fully grasping the concept but also capable of making inferences.
Siegler sidestepped to avoid Count Gregory’s retaliatory claw attack and surged forward, driving a Charge Punch fiercely into Gregory’s neck!
"I’ve long found you annoying."
Siegler shook her wrist without expression.
