103 – The Second Half of the Domain

“This exhilarating feeling of clashing with a worthy opponent... it's been far too long~”

Felicia cradled her flushed cheeks with both hands as she rubbed her proud assets, kneeling on the ground in a rather suggestive pose. “Teresa, push harder, struggle more intensely, won’t you~”

“?.........”

Even Teresa, who was usually unfazed by anything, was momentarily caught off guard by Felicia’s abrupt shift in behavior. She gently stroked her jade-like chin, wondering if she had accidentally flipped some switch inside Felicia.

Why had this seemingly righteous and dignified Knight Princess suddenly started acting like a crazed woman?

Teresa couldn’t make sense of it.

Could this... be her true nature?

Thankfully, the voices from inside the secret realm couldn’t be transmitted outside. At most, the audience could only see Felicia kneeling with a somewhat unhinged expression. If her legions of little fanboys and fangirls could actually hear what she was saying right now, who knew what kind of emotional breakdown they’d go through.

“That last move... it was a Divine Might or some sort of derivative Authority technique, right? Judging by the power, I’d lean toward the former.” Felicia leaned on her massive sword and slowly rose to her feet, the blush on her cheeks still lingering.

“If not for Anna’s support, I might’ve been completely pierced through by you, Teresa...”

“Could Her Highness Felicia perhaps consider using a more elegant and refined way to phrase that?”

“Eh? But I’m just stating the facts, aren’t I?”

Still holding her cheek, Felicia suddenly realized she might have overstepped a bit.

“Ah, apologies. It’s been so long since I faced someone who could push me this far. Allow me to rein in my emotions a little...”

“This duel isn’t exactly fair.”

After adjusting her slightly disheveled appearance, her flowing amber twin tails fell neatly into place. Felicia’s tone mostly returned to calm, though an irrepressible excitement still colored it.

“If it were just the two of us, the outcome would be hard to predict.”

“Unfortunately, in this Crown Tournament, I must defeat you, Teresa. Only by defeating you can I take the next step toward her~”

As she spoke, the finally composed Felicia seemed to remember something from the past. She blushed again and wrapped her arms around her own slender waist.

“Only I can be Astrid’s opponent... That feeling of giving your all, fighting with everything, until your body and soul are completely spent—what kind of scenery would it be, if that expression of humiliation and flustered defeat appeared on Astrid’s face~?” Felicia cupped her face, her cheeks flushed deep red.

Watching Felicia lose herself like that, Teresa was deep in thought.

This... didn’t quite match the rumors. This didn’t look like someone in love with Astrid.

“Your Highness Felicia, didn’t you send Astrid a love letter? Forgive my boldness—no offense intended—but if Astrid knew what you were thinking right now, how do you suppose she would react?”

“...Love letter? What love letter?” Felicia looked genuinely confused, as if this was the first time she’d heard of such a thing—straight from Teresa’s mouth.

“You didn’t send Miss Astrid a love letter?”

“Of course not. I’ve never done such a thing. Though, I did send her a letter recently—it was a challenge letter.”

“............”

Seeing Felicia’s expression, Teresa realized the whole rumor about Felicia pursuing Astrid was likely just gossip exaggerated by onlookers.

“Besides, Astrid has never seen me like this before, you know.” Felicia tilted her head.

“Unfortunately, I did lose to her in a previous match—but it was only a light sparring bout...”

“So, Your Highness Felicia, you’ve only ever gone off the rails in front of me, huh?”

“Ah, forgive me—that was poorly worded. I mean, lost composure.”

Seeing Felicia fall momentarily silent at her comment, Teresa smiled as she rephrased her words—though her tone carried not a hint of genuine remorse.

“.........”

Felicia, having calmed herself a bit, hoisted her greatsword again.

Though some of her personal quirks had been exposed due to unforeseen circumstances, the match wasn’t over yet.

Teresa was already at a disadvantage.

Felicia guessed that Teresa had just unleashed a Divine Might, and her Divine Authority must now be in a long cooldown. She wouldn’t have another chance to contend with her.

“I love facing strong opponents—the stronger the better. Only then does victory bring true exhilaration and plea~sure.”

“It’s unfortunate, and not the most honorable win, but Teresa... this time, I’m the victor. I wonder what your defeated expression will look like~?”

Felicia drew her mountain-cracking greatsword, gripping it tightly with both hands, then charged in for the final blow.

The sword gleamed with radiant crystal energy, glowing brilliantly.

With her Domain fractured and her Divine Authority on cooldown, and unarmed to boot—Felicia was certain of her victory.

Even though she’d lost her teammates and could no longer challenge Astrid, only one of them could win this match.

Only one could ascend the mountain.

CLANG CLANG!

Just as Felicia was about to eliminate Teresa, she felt a jarring resistance in her greatsword—like she’d struck an unyielding slab of stone.

What...?

Felicia’s eyes widened slightly.

At some point, Teresa was now holding a radiant cross-shaped knight’s greatsword glowing with brilliant golden light.

[Sacred Oblivion – Forge Blade]

Borrowing the final rays of the afternoon sun, Teresa had used intense light-element energy to forge a radiant knight’s sword.

The brilliance of the cross-shaped blade reflected off Teresa’s equally golden hair—her locks fluttering as if cleansed by holy light, reborn anew, ready to cleave through all obstacles.

Among all elemental Forge Blade types, the light-element Forge Blade manifested as a knight’s greatsword. It possessed physical cutting power and came imbued with Divine Authority strike effects.

Why? How can she still use a Divine Authority?!...

Briefly stunned, Felicia quickly reined in her surprise.

She hadn’t given up?

Good. That’s how a Divine Princess should fight—giving it her all until the very end.

Still, the result would not change.

Felicia planted her feet and leaned into her sword, pressing forward against Teresa.

Her opponent’s close-combat skills were average at best. She couldn’t win.

But just as Felicia made her move, Teresa suddenly lifted her eyes—those piercing, sharp, breathtakingly beautiful eyes seemingly able to read every weakness and momentary lapse.

Bending her knees slightly, Teresa angled her light blade, guiding Felicia’s greatsword to strike squarely against the cross-guard.

CLANG!

Sparks flew in the shower. The force from Felicia’s strike was redirected through Teresa’s legs into the ground. Then, finding her leverage point, Teresa twisted—and flung the clamped greatsword away.

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