Nineteen years ago.

In a small hotel on the border of the Empire.

The traveling Prince Dietford scratched his head in pain. Hywell was by his side, not knowing how to persuade his friends. Master Friedrich slipped away under the pretext that something was wrong.

For a long time, Dietford thought that Hywell was the only one in the world who was more talented than him.

Lichenda's appearance completely collapsed his worldview......

Whether it's a weapon contest or a fist and foot contest, whether it's secret ritual skills or the ability to perform special tasks, Dietford is completely blown up by this girl. Dietford challenged again and again, but his attempts only increased his sense of powerlessness.

Hywell hesitated for a long time between "Hey, Your Highness, it's not a big deal to lose to her, you see I lose to her all the time" and "You can surpass her in other ways."

"Listen, Dieterford......"

"Don't convince me, really," Hywell's words were roughly interrupted by Dieterford, "I know I'm far less talented than hers. I was just...... Unwilling to ......"

Hywell shook his head slightly. That's what people are like, right? Dieterford is the crown prince of the empire, and he has tried to prove that he is the best in all his fields.

It's a pity that the reality is so cruel. Even Hywell himself sometimes deliberately loses to Detford in competitions. Even if Dietford saw that he had reservations, he would have felt that Hywell was only a little better than himself.

And Lichenda never knew what it meant to save face. No matter how strong Dietford's fighting spirit is, he will only be slapped in the face by her again and again.

"If I were you," Haywell sighed, "I'd feel like I'd be lucky." ”

"Don't lie to me—"

"How would you feel if a lot of people who are weaker than you challenge you repeatedly?"

"It's annoying."

"Do you think Lichenda's attitude towards you is a bit like 'annoying to death'?"

"No......" Dietford seemed to wake up to something, "you're right. She did ......"

"Even with a whining mouth, Licenta is dealing with you at her best," Hywell said, "and I don't have that kind of treatment." Lichenda thinks highly of you. She is very appreciative of your efforts. ”

Such an opponent is precious. As long as you keep following in her footsteps, you can keep getting stronger, Hywell thought.

"That's right. She's always interested! Dietford's interest seems to have changed a little bit better, "Maybe the gap between us isn't that big. One day, I'll give her a taste of failure. ”

……

on the roof.

Lichenda plays with the "Blade of Calamity" with one hand and stuffs the steaming scones into her mouth with the other. She could hear the conversation between Dietford and Hywell clearly.

"It's hard," she muttered, "forget it." Let's make him happy next time. ”

……

An hour later, the future emperor of the empire once again fell into a state of astasy.

He challenged Ligenta again, and instead ......

"Why does he look so uncomfortable?" Lichenda wondered. Dieterford's tentative first blow had knocked her "flying" into a tree, and she let out a strange scream, and then "couldn't stand up at all".

"Next time, I should teach you how to release water...... "Hywell helped his forehead.

Not far away, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has entered the mode of "frustrated body bending forward".

……

A year after that.

First it was Lichenda, then Hywell, and finally Dieterford, desperately trying to catch up with the two. The trio eventually mastered the "Descent of the Buddha", and soon reached the Blue Ocean Level, becoming the legendary Secret Ritual Warrior.

Of course, Lichenda and Hywell did not disclose their strength.

Let the honor of the strongest secret warrior belong to the emperor of the empire.

But Dietford himself knows...... He is not yet qualified to be the strongest fighter in the world.

-------------

Time comes back to the present.

A pure white city, on the shore of a sea of clouds.

The green light of the "Calamity Blade" tore through the sky.

No matter what kind of attack Ionia used: elementals, spells, illusions, psychic interference, Lichenda easily defused them.

"Enough. That's all your power is! Ligenta drank coldly. It would be foolish to be so wary of him; If you continue like this, you will soon be able to exhaust his mental power.

"It's more than I could have imagined, Lygenta," Ionia admired, "I've seen many legendary esoteric warriors, from emperors to obscure hermits, and you're the strongest of them all. ”

"How many legendary mystical warriors have you seen?" Lichenda scoffed. Mortals in the Cloud Age have no more than a hundred years to live, and Legendary Spellcasters are no exception.

"A lot." Ionia said calmly.

Lichenda stopped abruptly.

He's saying, what......?

Before the three of them broke through, there was only one legendary secret warrior in the empire for decades. He was not a member of the royal family and died before Dietford succeeded to the throne. Further on—

"That's literally, Lichenda," Ionia smiled regretfully, "even the first bearer of the 'Heavenly Dome', or the first bearer of the Light World, is in the middle of the match compared to you. ”

At that moment, Lichenda discovered a terrible problem. She didn't have much interest in imperial history, but after more than a decade of hearing and seeing, she naturally realized the uncanny in Ionia's words.

"The first holder of the 'Sky Dome'? The first holder of the 'World of Light'? No kidding! They died before you were born. You can't possibly know their strength. Do you think it's a needless compliment......"

"The Hand of the Sea of Clouds never compliments anyone," Ionia looked away, "I'm just telling the truth. ”

Ionia's gaze made Lichenda feel uncomfortable. She had an urge to immediately use the deity to descend and crush the other party, but she resisted. If it weren't for the fact that her deity had come to the environment with endless trouble, she would have used her deity to descend a long time ago.

She had a strange instinct from just now...... It is best not to use the deity to deal with the enemy in front of you.

"The mages who fought over there, Speaker Nicholas were stronger and more comprehensive than Okard back then," Ionia continued, "François, Stewart, Ragnar, King, Friedrich...... It's all mediocre. It was Sham who had more than I thought, but he was on a crooked path. ”

"Your bluff won't save you." Regenta raised the "Blade of Calamity" again. I actually spent so long listening to his nonsense......

"You're the number one group among the legendary secret warriors," an eerie smile appeared on Ionia's face, "I haven't seen Duke Hywell make a move, but I judge that his strength is in the middle and upper ranks among the legends of the past." Only Dietford, who barely became a legend, is at the bottom of the division-"

"Enough!"

This guy suddenly began to speak in the tone of an old monster who had lived for a thousand years. What does he think he is? Have you overcome the immortality puzzle that countless legendary mages can't overcome? If he really had this immortal ability, the "Hand of the Sea of Clouds" organization wouldn't have to hide in the shadows all the time!

Do you know how much effort Dietford put in to catch up with him? Barely enough? It's ridiculous. There is no one in this world who is more like a true "warrior" than Dietford, challenging the limits of the impossible again and again. He would never lose to that Nicholas.

Nonetheless –

Lichenda's emotions responded faster than reason.

Pure and flawless anger.

Crush the insult to Dietford, and then, together with Dietford, crush all the remaining enemies.

That's your mission. their own way of survival.

Lichenda has her back to the sea of clouds. The green glow on the Calamity Blade grew stronger and stronger.

"The deity descends to ......"

.。 m.