Chapter 110 – A Fierce Fight Using Every Last Ounce of Strength

With all unrelated participants now eliminated, the match returned to its purest form.

A one-on-one duel between Teresa and Astrid.

Litt was lucky—unlike the instructors and students who could no longer see anything, she had front-row seats. Unfortunately, this seat was horizontal, not vertical.

The effect of [Verdant Fragrance] had a decay period. However, inside a forest, with Teresa constantly drawing on natural power, the vines only grew tighter. Litt grew more uncomfortable by the second, especially around her disproportionately large "chest pouches."

“Ughhh, couldn’t you untie me before fighting?” Litt whined in frustration but dared not speak too loudly in the current atmosphere. She still hadn’t realized that her own actions had led to both Teresa’s counterattack and her current predicament.

Emerald eyes locked with violet ones. After confirming the shared battle intent in each other’s gaze, both girls drew their weapons.

Astrid summoned her elven moonblade once more, while Teresa reached for her Light Knight’s Sword.

But just as the greatsword began to form, it abruptly vanished.

Teresa frowned and glanced toward the sky—it was already past high noon, with crimson clouds signaling the dusk.

Damn. The sunlight was too weak. Not enough to summon the knight’s lightblade.

Was there anything she could use as a substitute?

She looked around and found a willow tree.

Placing both hands on its bark, she pulled out a longsword formed from black bark and green leaves.

[Sacred Oblivion: Forge Blade]

Leaf element, forged.

Now empowered by [Broken Bow], Teresa twirled the leafy blade in her hand, sending petals scattering in the air before gripping it tightly.

Staring at the elegant, composed Gold Elf girl before her, Astrid’s mind wandered somewhere it shouldn’t.

Now that she knew Teresa was Dylin’s Divine Princess—and she herself wasn’t—this information took on new, deeper meaning.

“Lady Teresa, forgive my abruptness, but may I ask—did you have any particular criteria when choosing your Divine Child?” Astrid asked suddenly.

The question surprised Teresa. Astrid was never one to pry into others’ personal matters.

“Oh? Could it be that you suspect I approached Mr. Dylin with ulterior motives?” Teresa smiled playfully. For some reason, she wanted to tease Astrid a little, so she spoke plainly.

“I didn’t mean that. I’m merely curious about your selection criteria, that’s all.”

“So, in your eyes, Mr. Dylin has no redeeming qualities. And you’re just wondering what I could possibly see in him?” Teresa’s smile didn’t waver. She spoke as though mocking someone else.

“...Lady Teresa, do you think he has no redeeming qualities?” Astrid’s brow twitched slightly. “I’m not trying to speculate on your thoughts. But is that really your opinion?”

“Sorry, my words were careless. But no, you’re wrong, Astrid. That’s not my opinion—it’s the one I imagined you held. After all, you were his previous Divine Princess, weren’t you?”

A blunt way of saying: you were the one who abandoned him.

Astrid’s lips tightened. She gripped her blade and said no more.

Some things—even facing a Gold Elf—she would never yield on. Like the outcome of this duel.

Seeing Astrid’s silence, Teresa put away her teasing smile.

Gold sun and silver moon. Two elves, locked in battle stance.

Teresa bent her knees and dashed forward. In her [Broken Bow] state, she had lost long-range capabilities—but gained significant melee strength. Closing the distance was the best choice.

Astrid didn’t know that Teresa’s speed and strength increased dramatically in this state. She also underestimated her opponent’s close-combat prowess.

When the leafblade met the moonblade, Astrid immediately felt an overwhelming force pushing her back.

Just one exchange told her she’d been wrong—Teresa wasn’t just a master archer. Her swordsmanship was no less refined.

Planting her feet, Teresa borrowed the earth’s force to knock Astrid’s blade aside.

Blade after blade swept past like illusions. Even though Astrid tried to dodge on instinct, she was still half a beat too slow. The leafblade cut her arm, and silver strands of hair floated to the ground.

Teresa’s attacks were relentless. Once she spotted an opening, she never let go. Her swift strikes overwhelmed Astrid.

In some ways, Astrid was like Felicia—underestimating Teresa. But unlike Felicia, Astrid hadn’t expected her to be this proficient in swordsmanship and archery.

Trying to stabilize, Astrid fell into disarray. Her defense crumbled.

Teresa took the chance to deliver a harsh kick to Astrid’s stomach after a slash. As Astrid staggered, Teresa tossed out a green bud.

It wrapped around Astrid’s thigh, rooting itself there. Blue-silver cornflowers bloomed from the spot.

At first, the Divine Authority strike didn’t seem to hurt. But then Astrid felt it: the vine was draining her power.

She tried to destroy the flower with her Divine Authority—but it just absorbed it greedily, growing even larger and more bloated.

Seeing her opponent ensnared, Teresa charged again.

Astrid knew she couldn’t hold back any longer. She activated a Four-Star Constellation Divine Authority.

Ignoring the draining vine, she closed her eyes—and suddenly, a nearby tree bent sideways and flung Teresa back.

What?!

Teresa twisted mid-air and realized what had struck her was no ordinary tree.

It had been transformed into a massive vine-beast with human-like arms and a ghoulish, knotted face. Its roots writhed, allowing free movement.

This was Astrid’s Four-Star Constellation technique: [Fae Summon].

The tree roared, launching its leaves like projectiles.

These weren’t normal leaves—they were Divine Authority attacks. Teresa tried to dodge, but there were too many.

She held her leafblade tightly. To her eyes, the leaves slowed down—but their overwhelming density left her no room to move.

Now Astrid, hiding behind the tree and launching attacks, pulled out a recovery potion.

Teresa couldn’t dodge. So—just like always—she didn’t.

She charged straight in.

Her leafblade ignited with an ice-blue flame: Blade Flame.

Not only did it pierce armor, it enhanced weapon properties—multiplying even the minor magic damage of the leafblade into something deadly.

Astrid hesitated. Why wasn’t Teresa dodging? Why wasn’t she shielding?

She was charging into a storm of Divine Authority attacks—without a domain!

The leaves tore into Teresa’s skin. Her token cracked. But her expression barely changed—still wearing that calm, unreadable smile.

Holding her blade, the golden-haired girl pushed through the storm. The flaming leafblade sliced through the tree monster in a flash of blue.

The attack ceased. The monster split in half and withered into dead wood.

Astrid tossed aside her potion. Teresa’s blade was already on its way.

Thinking fast, Astrid sacrificed another star.

[Trailing Meteor]

A silver meteor that entangles enemies and explodes—used when close-combat defense fails.

As it flew, she tried again to drink her potion.

Teresa slashed at it—but the meteor’s Divine Authority glue clung to her weapon. She couldn’t pull it back.

With no other option, Teresa let go of the blade and dropped to the ground.

The meteor grazed her back, searing a new wound.

Now covered in injuries and without her domain, Teresa was in dire straits.

Pain surged—but she pressed on.

Astrid hadn’t expected her to dodge the meteor. She tried to retreat, but there was no outrunning [Broken Bow] Teresa.

[Sacred Oblivion: Forge Blade]

Normally, losing grip on your weapon meant defeat. But not for her. She could forge a new one from the land.

Only—this time, the earth didn’t respond. All she felt was emptiness.

No...

Her eyes widened.

She had used too much Divine Authority. Especially during yesterday’s battle with Felicia, when she had activated [Sovereignty of All Forests]—a massive drain.

That’s why she hadn’t used it earlier—she didn’t have the reserves left.

Now, she couldn’t even forge a blade.

Sensing Teresa’s limits, Astrid regained her calm.

Three stars rotated beside her—this was the Three-Star Constellation effect.

They could be used to attack freely at her command.

Looking at Teresa—barely clothed, barely standing—Astrid’s gaze hardened.

I’m sorry, Lady Teresa. But I have to win.

Just as the stars shot forward—Teresa moved.

She was faster than the stars.

She’d been hiding her true speed all this time!

In less than a heartbeat, Teresa’s breathtaking face was inches from Astrid’s.

Astrid tried to draw her blade, but Teresa grabbed her wrist.

No weapon? Fine. Teresa punched and kicked.

She disarmed Astrid, knocked her down. They rolled on the ground—locked in a desperate, breathless brawl.

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