57: Chapter 57 A Relentless Sparring Battle!! The Moon Goddess Descends
Therefore, she had always seen fighting and becoming stronger as her mission! Today, she felt incredibly excited that at least one of her shortcomings could finally be addressed.
If Li Yuan knew what she was thinking, he wouldn't be able to help but complain: "You're thinking way too highly of Laya..."
The group arrived at the training grounds chatting and laughing, finding a relatively secluded high-level arena. This area was separated from the other training fields by a long corridor, so typically no one would come to watch.
Then, the so-called training began—
Li Yuan first went to the side to continue adjusting the equipment for the Order of the Light Guardians.
Laya and Aria went to the combat zone in the center. Laya didn't actually know anything about teaching close-quarters combat.
To her, it was just about fighting—fighting until the other person submitted...
And so...
"Aiya!"
With a short cry of surprise, Elia was once again pinned to the ground by Laya using a sophisticated joint lock. Her eyes were full of unyielding stubbornness as she tried to struggle in various ways, only to find that Laya's arms were like cast alloy, completely immovable.
"Sister Elia~ your lower body is still not stable enough!" Laya said with a grin, sitting on Elia's lower back as if she had found a new toy.
Reaching out a mischievous hand, she pinched Elia's cheeks, which were slightly puffed out from exertion. The skin felt cool and smooth, making her reluctant to let go. "Hehe, it feels so good!"
"Laya! Let go!" Elia was both embarrassed and annoyed, a sense of frustration and stubbornness welling up in her heart. "Let's go again!"
Time and again she tried, and time and again she failed; Aria was repeatedly pinned to the ground by Laya. What started as playful banter slowly turned into a tense atmosphere. Laya had suggested stopping several times, but Aria was as stubborn as a mule, her voice even carrying a hint of a sob.
Just as Laya subdued Aria once more, pinning her arms behind her back and pressing a knee lightly against her lower back, Laya dropped her playful tone and said seriously, "Sister Elia, let's stop for a moment. Your state of mind isn't right. There's no point in continuing like this."
However, Aria struggled stubbornly with all her might, remaining silent.
She couldn't accept being so vulnerable in close combat, especially after putting in so much effort and expectation.
A sense of mission originating from the depths of her amnesia collided violently with her frustration, causing her to nearly lose her reason.
Suddenly, Buzz—!
A pillar of cold, clear moonlight descended from the void, enveloping Elia!
At that moment, Aria could faintly see a peerless, solitary Female Sword Immortal holding a sharp blade, dancing gracefully amidst endless moonlight with a rhythm that contained the ultimate principles of heaven and earth!
In the next instant, Elia's body was no longer under her own control.
"Boom—!"
A violent ice storm erupted from her as the center, the powerful impact sending the caught-off-guard Laya flying!
Amidst the swirling ice mist, Elia's figure slowly rose, but her appearance had completely changed—
Her original training clothes were replaced by a set of magnificent ice-crystal armor. The armor's lines were fluid, shimmering with the luster of moonlight and cold stars, accentuating her slender figure and making her look even more heroic.
Her silver hair flowed without wind, with tiny ice crystals drifting from the tips. Above her head floated a crescent halo condensed from pure moonlight, shedding a holy and extraordinary radiance.
And in her hand, she tightly gripped a divine sword forged entirely from ten-thousand-year-old profound ice. The blade flowed with a piercing cold light, as if it could freeze time and space.
Like the Moon Goddess of the Guanghan Palace, a Moonlit Valkyrie descending upon the mortal world!
Without waiting for Laya to adjust her stance in mid-air, Elia had already turned into an ice-blue afterimage and pursued her!
The Ice Divine Sword in her hand seemed to thrust forward casually, yet a moonlit sword beam containing absolute freezing power tore through space, instantly sealing off all of Laya's evasion angles!
Although Laya didn't know what was happening, the momentum from their long spar caused her to dodge to the side and close in, intending to counter with a grappling technique to nip Elia's outburst in the bud.
Unexpectedly, Aria's wrist flicked with a mysterious rhythm, just grazing Laya's arm and slicing across her slender waist!
It's over! Laya's whole body stiffened! She was about to release Hope Dust Sound. From what she had just seen, this ice sword was so sharp that she feared she might be cut in half... She quickly released her life-saving domain of infinite resurrection.
A holy halo exploded, and an endless Great Resurrection Spell descended, however...
The expected pain of being cut in half did not come; there was only a slight chill that instantly spread from the point of impact.
Her pretty face instantly turned beet red. Oh no... this is embarrassing! She had actually been shown mercy by a novice! Arghhhhh!
Laya's gaze instantly sharpened. Being shown mercy by a newcomer was a disgrace; even the Seraph wouldn't dare go so easy on her.
She didn't dare be the slightest bit careless again. Carefully observing Aria's sword style, she dodged left and right.
Finally, she found a tiny opening when Elia's sword strike had overextended. Her hand formed a claw and shot out, striking directly at the other's seemingly wide-open chest!
However, a [Profound Ice Shield] composed of countless hexagonal ice crystals instantly pieced itself together out of thin air.
"Boom!" The ice shield didn't budge. The exploding cold air backlashed through her palm, leaving Laya's arm feeling numb.
A trap!
Laya realized it immediately, but it was too late! The Ice Divine Sword swept up swiftly. This time, the cold blade brushed past her neck, leaving behind a trace of chill.
"Arghhhhh." Repeated setbacks made Laya's face burn with heat, her heart filled with both shock and anger—as the teacher, how could she be schooled by her student to this extent?!
She gave a delicate shout, and her offensive changed again. Her figure moved like light and electricity, stepping in a profound pattern around Aria, attempting to use speed to evade her attacks and wait for an opportunity.
However, Elia's footwork was even more ethereal and agile, like dancing under the moon. Every time Laya's rhythm changed, she delivered a fierce attack.
Laya dodged left and right, but the situation didn't improve; instead, she became even more disheveled.
During a rapid maneuver, Laya made a large movement for an extreme dodge, but forgot she was wearing a skirt. Her feet tripped! She lurched right toward Elia's blade.
"Oh no!" The thought had just flashed through Laya's mind.
Elia didn't hold back either. With a "thud," Laya was struck in the abdomen by the flat of Aria's blade and sent flying.
"This is outrageous!"
With a delicate shout, brilliant holy light erupted from within Laya! The Sacred Glow Dragon Scale Armor emerged, with liquid light-flame seemingly flowing within its patterns.
A pair of massive light wings fully unfurled behind her, each flap stirring up a visible energy storm. In her right hand, the Holy Flame Greatsword burned with white Purifying Holy Flame; in her left, the Holy Shield of Light was inscribed with mysterious runes of Mount Heaven.
"Again!"