No one who had seen Huburke would believe that with his half-orc physique of five to six meters, once he started moving, he could be so fast.
The principle that the larger the size, the slower the relative speed, seemed not to apply to him.
Huburke ran like thunder, his feet striking the earth, displaying a agility and speed completely mismatched with his body, astonishing to behold.
Upon reaching Xu Xiaomei, Huburke wielded his Barbarian God Heaven-Splitting Spear, sweeping it towards her.
On the other side.
Xu Xiaomei, having the advantage of waiting, showed no fear. Her Phoenix Blood Sword was swiftly drawn, transforming into a lightning bolt that slashed towards Huburke.
Bang!
These two inhuman figures blurred into afterimages, trailing roiling waves of qi and clouds of dust…
Bang! Bang! Bang…
The clash of spear and sword rang out in a continuous explosion of sound. Both individuals were like beasts clad in human skin, their strength and speed reaching the peak of their respective races.
In the end, Xu Xiaomei’s superior skill prevailed. With one sword strike, she severed his head, killing Huburke, the Lord of the Barbarians.
Fifty years later!
In a magnificent palace, an empress reigned supreme, the undisputed emperor of the continent of Arkantis.
Now over a hundred years old, she sat alone in the palace, with a colossal being approximately a thousand zhang in size seated below her.
In the vast, empty palace, which had been inhabited by just one person and one beast for countless years, a special atmosphere suddenly permeated the air.
…
Xu Xiaomei gently stroked the scales of the Crimson Blood Giant Dragon and murmured, "Hey, old friend, I'm dying soon. I'm sorry to have you accompany me to the very end."
Wu Tao, who had transformed into the Crimson Blood Giant Dragon, let out a roar, indicating he was indifferent. Life and death were one, and it was his destiny.
Time was the most terrifying thing in the world. No matter how extraordinary a prodigy, they would be consumed by time, even the eternally first woman, Empress Xu Xiaomei, was no exception.
…
The Empress lived to the age of one hundred and fifty-two.
…
She was the most astonishing emperor in the history of Arkantis, the most talented woman of all time! She was also the first empress, past and present.
Xu Xiaomei looked down upon history. She contended with the heavens, the earth, and all the men in the world. She was not born a rare, heaven-defying prodigy…
Yet, together with her Contracted Beast, the Crimson Blood Giant Dragon transformed from Wu Tao, she vanquished all the kings of the nations and swept across the entire continent.
She unified the continent of Arkantis, becoming one of the most renowned figures in its history.
Throughout history, who else could rule as emperor as a woman? Xu Xiaomei was the first, with no predecessor and no successor.
The name of the Empress would be passed down through the ages, her legacy enduring for millennia!
With the death of the Empress, Wu Tao, the transformed Crimson Blood Giant Dragon, also met the end of his life.
This fifth illusionary cycle ended in failure.
…
The sixth trial, the sixth cycle, had begun.
This time, Wu Tao sealed his own consciousness once more, embarking on yet another illusory life.
…
Desira and Denlily were twin sisters, born into a noble family in the Purple Mandragon Empire.
Due to overly strict upbringing and the rebellious phase of their youth, both sisters yearned for independence.
Currently, the twin sisters were studying at Hofvargin Academy, the most famous magic academy in the capital of the Purple Mandragon Empire.
As their magic studies were often tedious and monotonous, they gradually developed a desire to do things that only "bad girls" would do.
…
Therefore, the twin sisters would occasionally band together, unbeknownst to their parents, to engage in some daring activities.
Of course, this did not mean they intended to try anything that would lead to their eternal damnation if they fell.
What they wanted to experiment with were things that were occasionally against the rules but would not lead to lifelong regret.
Thus, sneaking out of their home occasionally at night to have a glass of wine at a bar, chatting with handsome gentlemen, and dancing became their usual routine.
The taste of alcohol and the thrill of close contact with the opposite sex were an indescribable temptation for girls in their nascent adolescence.
So, tonight, the two of them had once again sneaked out of their home.
To be frank, this pair of twin sisters were exceptionally beautiful, veritable natural beauties.
Not only were their features delicate and their skin fair and smooth, but their figures were also curvaceous. Their golden hair cascaped like waterfalls, and their eyes were incredibly bright and intelligent.
That blend of purity and allure evoked an instinctive desire for possession in men.
Most importantly, the twin sisters looked identical, making it impossible for outsiders to distinguish between them.
However, to avoid being recognized by acquaintances, Desira and Denlily not only wore heavy makeup but also cast spells on themselves to distort others' perception of their appearances.
Of course, such magic could only fool mages of lower levels. Against mages of higher levels, these petty tricks were utterly useless.
Desira and Denlily were both third-level mages. Considering they were only seventeen years old, their talent was quite exceptional.
"Hey, sis, I heard this bar has a new owner," Denlily said in a low voice as they walked into the alley.
…
"Every bar is a golden goose laying eggs; disputes are normal, but a change of ownership is quite rare."
"Because in our Purple Mandragon Empire, you can't open a bar without someone backing you. Something else must have happened here."
"But that has nothing to do with us. No matter who the owner is, they won't harm customers."
"Because we are the saints sent by the Goddess of Magic, Misra, to bring them money!"
Desira, the elder sister, replied with a smile. Then she added, "Besides, don't you think drinking in places like this is more fun? We might even see some uncleaned bloodstains on the walls later. Just the thought is exciting."
…
"I don't think so," Denlily said, sticking out her tongue a little fearfully.
Denlily had already spotted the bar's entrance. The doorman had indeed changed. He was a two-meter-tall burly man with a terrifying scar across his face and a single eye.
He stood there alone, exuding an indescribable aura of pressure that radiated outwards, like a solitary peak in a mountain range.
"He looks fiercer than the previous security guard."
Sister Denlily felt a twinge of apprehension and wanted to turn back, but her sister
Desira pulled her along, leading her sister to the entrance of the bar.
"Hi, we're regulars here. Please let us through!" Desira said with a smile.
…
"Welcome to Nightwhisper Bar, two distinguished guests."
The one-eyed man glanced at the twin sisters and smiled.
Then, he bowed slightly and said, "Please rest assured, our owner will guarantee the safety of every customer, just like before!"
He then gestured with his right hand, making a "please" motion.
"Hmph, don't underestimate us. What kind of danger could we possibly encounter?" Denlily said, puffing out her cheeks in what she thought was a fierce expression, but to others, it looked utterly adorable.
The corner of the one-eyed man's mouth twitched slightly, and he almost burst out laughing.
Desira and Denlily entered the bar, passed through a corridor, and arrived at the dance hall, immediately feeling an overwhelming atmosphere of excitement and wildness.
Amidst the neon lights, numerous drunken men and women were venting their daily stresses, gulping down various fine liquors.
On stage, countless unfamiliar men and women, dressed in extremely revealing attire, their bare bodies almost touching.
"I like this atmosphere."
As soon as Denlily entered the dance hall, she was in her element, swaying her alluring body to the explosive music.
Desira scanned her surroundings and approached the bar counter.
The previous bartender had also been replaced by a charming young man.
This man was currently smiling as he wiped a glass with a white handkerchief.
He had short black hair, violet eyes, a high nose bridge, handsome features, and a tall, slender build. He was also dressed impeccably.
His violet eyes were particularly rare; in Desira's memory, only direct descendants of the Thorn family, one of the four great families of the empire, possessed such eye color.
However, this bartender in front of her could hardly be a direct descendant of the Thorn family.
After all, no nobleman would engage in a profession that nobles considered to be beneath them.
Especially not a direct descendant of the Thorn family, who were among the most prominent in all noble circles of the empire.
In this world where twelve major races—humans, elves, giants, vampires, beastmen, undead, insectoids, demons, dragons, angels, merfolk, and dwarves—coexisted with twenty-four deities, the social hierarchy was extremely rigid.
This was particularly true in the four human empires, where the class system was even more stringent.
The true characteristics of nobility were luxurious and presentable attire, along with a certain level of attainment in magic and combat skills.
The bartender in front of her possessed none of these noble traits.
…
Yet, Desira had to admit that the bartender before her was much more pleasing to the eye than the previous middle-aged one.
"What can I get for you two beautiful ladies on this evening?"
The bartender smiled, put down the glass, and recommended, "I recommend the bar's new drink, Sleeping Beauty's Kiss!"
"New drink? Sleeping Beauty's Kiss!"
Desira's eyes lit up, and Denlily, beside her, eagerly spoke first, "This one, please."
As she said this, she handed over several gold coins.
As noble twin sisters, they were quite well-off, and a few gold coins were nothing to them.
After the bartender put the gold coins into the drawer, he opened the shaker and poured in various fine liquors, beginning to mix the drink.
Desira and Denlily watched the rapidly spinning shaker and the bartender's slender fingers, feeling somewhat mesmerized.