"Why are you reacting like that? Is it really that surprising that I challenge you to a fight? You’re underestimating me." Krisha crossed her arms, sulking.

Felix panicked. He hurriedly explained, "Y-You’re misunderstanding my reaction. I just realized that you’ve reached Awakener Rank 6 just few days ago. You don’t have Rain like me, so how did you do it?"

Krisha’s eyebrows raised. She rolled her eyes again, even more displeased to him.

Felix was lost for words. At this point, he didn’t know what to do or say.

Krisha noticed how genuinely lost he was and couldn’t help herself but giggle at him.

Felix was dumbfounded. I really can’t understand women at all!

Krisha said, "I won’t tell you. Anyway, you better not reject my proposal later. Let’s fight in the first round."

Felix nodded. "Alright. Let’s get rid of the other participants first before we have a duel inside the mists. You aim that, right? To hide our progress inside the mists?"

Krisha shook her head. "No, I just want to battle with you with pure sword technique. Getting rid of the others work either way. Also, if you’re ready, you should pick me as your first opponent in the beast sync arena."

Felix was taken aback. He clearly did not expect for Krisha to be boldly challenging him.

What went through her mind? He wondered. She knows about my sword technique and Moon’s potential. To challenge me in a duel with our beast pets? This is highly suspicious.

Felix narrowed his gaze at Krisha, and the latter didn’t bat an eye and simply focused on eating.

Felix, in the end, sighed. "Alright. I feel like you’re about to give me a surprise."

Krisha grinned, gulped down the meat, and replied, "Ready your reaction. I’ll be looking forward to it."

Felix frowned. He still has no idea if Krisha was bluffing or not.

...

After they finished eating, Krisha didn’t forget to provoke Felix once more before parting ways on their room.

Felix honestly didn’t know how to react from Krisha’s strange actions earlier.

She was clearly provoking him.

Is she learning from me? Felix thought, chuckling.

He glanced at Rain and recounted what occurred earlier. Rain expressed his desire to participate in a duel in the arena, but Felix had to reject him. He comforted him for some time just to calm him down.

After knowing there were still two hours left before the ramble later, Felix finally decided to sleep again.

After all, if he counted the number of hours he slept for today, it was only five hours...

...

It was currently the second week of June. Most of the beast tamers, who finally anchored their soul to another dimension to summon their beast pet, was still at the Awakener Rank 1, preparing for the college entrance exam in the next two months.

It was arranged this way to give time for the newly beast tamers to focus grooming their beast pet until it grew to the age it was eligible to enter college.

Of course, it was also the week where Felix has also become the main topic in the Chambers City. After all, he was the first beast tamer, who reached Awakener Rank 7 in a week, according to the Azure Cleave Dojo.

Others tried to dismiss it, but it was the Azure Cleave Dojo, who officially declared it.

Hence, Felix’s identity has also reached the Federation.

The mayor was already preparing a report for the monthly meeting in the Federation.

At this moment, Felix barely has idea of the effects of what he caused.

It was inevitable, his focus was narrow down to the point he didn’t pay attention to any issues surrounding him—well, he barely does.

He was adamant in growing stronger. Moon, Rain, and his sword art already occupied most of his time that he barely had rest. He couldn’t allow himself to be disturbed by other subjects that barely held meaning to him.

Unless he had to be involved with it.

He had just woken up from his sleep. No cellphone alarm was involved, the Guide woke him up.

He dazed in the ceiling for a while, before opening his phone. There was still an hour left before the ramble, so he took a cold shower to refresh himself before going out of his room.

He messaged Krisha if she was ready and there was no response, so he stood in front of her door, knocking.

He waited for five minutes in silence, before knocking again.

A notification rang on his phone. It was from Krisha, telling him she had just finished taking a shower.

Felix assured her then that he’d wait outside of her door. Krisha didn’t respond, perhaps, already rushing in wearing the uniform.

While waiting, Felix daydreamed. His imagination made his face turned beet red and his heart to race.

After some time, he slapped his cheeks and mumbled, "You must get hold of yourself, Felix. Stop being creepy."

Suddenly, the doorknob in front of him twisted and the door was pulled open.

Krisha appeared, wearing light make up and the uniform used by disciples. It was also the most comfortable clothes to be wear when fighting with a sword compared to other clothes.

"Why are you in a rush? Are you really that eager to be defeated by me?"

Felix rolled his eyes. "I just finished earlier than you. I have nothing to do anyway."

Krisha nodded. "I see. It’s dangerous if you have nothing to do, you might be thinking of erotic things."

Felix snorted. "So, that’s why you purposely said it?"

Krisha smiled at him mischievously.

She did not reply as she first walked towards the hallway.

"Let’s go. I’m already ready for our first fight."

Felix glanced at her back and smiled. It’s good to know that she’s doing well.

Felix gazed at her for a while. Her step, her body posture, her sword handling... suddenly, they became strange to him.

He frowned. Something’s wrong.

[That’s right, Host. You’ve finally noticed it.]

Felix nodded. It’s hard for me not to notice it.

After all, I’m familiar with her movement—it has been affected by the movement technique of the Frozen Vein Sword Art.

But now, every of her step is light...

His face turned serious.

And lethal. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

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A/N: Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to show your supports by giving golden tickets, powerstones, and reviews! It means a lot since this is participating for WSA.