"What are you guys talking about? Is the Boss actually going to fight that Swordmaster?" Although Ying Xue didn’t fully grasp the mechanics of the Training Room, she could understand the visual data perfectly well.

  "Yeah. That Swordmaster is a monster," Ying Feng said, nodding emphatically.

  "A monster? Can he really be stronger than the Grand Blademasters of the Imperial City?" Ling Xiao thought dismissively.

  In the capital, a Grand Blademaster was a pinnacle of swordsmanship, one of the three Great Enshrined Protectors of the Imperial Family. They were Master-rank powerhouses—only half a step away from joining the ranks of true Heroes. How could a mere artificial construct inside an alchemical trinket compare to a living legend?

  [Battle Start!]

  The moment the synthesized voice rang out, Kael’s gaze sharpened. His entire aura shifted into one of absolute focus.

  The Swordmaster was as fast as ever. By the time the sound of the voice faded, his silhouette had already vanished.

  This speed elicited a gasp from Ying Xue and Ling Xiao. Unlike Ying Feng and Blood Wolf, who had already felt the terror firsthand, the newcomers were genuinely shaken. Such velocity was harrowing.

  Ling Xiao realized that if he were facing this speed, he wouldn't be able to keep up; he’d be forced into passive defense until his inevitable, crushing defeat. As for a Mage like Ying Xue? She wouldn't stand a chance.

  This was the most terrifying aspect of the Arena's Swordmaster: unparalleled speed and footwork, combined with a relentless, invasive technique. He was the personification of a Reaper.

  Suddenly, Kael’s silhouette flickered. He raised his longsword in a precise, minimalist parry.

  With that single, subtle movement, the Swordmaster—who had been lurking in the void for a lethal opening—was forced back into the light.

  Clang—!

  The rapier clashed with the longsword. Knowing his momentum had been broken, the Swordmaster blurred through several evasive maneuvers to retreat. Yet, even in retreat, his rapier flicked out like a viper, lunging at Kael from an impossible angle.

  "It's over. The Boss is toast."

  "I knew he wouldn't last ten moves."

  "That Swordmaster is insane... I wonder if I can steal his moves."

  The thoughts of the spectators behind Kael were a tangled mess. Blood Wolf and Ying Feng, having been thoroughly humiliated, were practically vibrating with the hope of seeing Kael fail. Go ahead, mock us for being scrubs—just wait until it's your turn to be a laughingstock.

  Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly. Instead of defending, his sword lunged from a different trajectory, closing in on the Swordmaster’s throat with "after-striking" priority.

  Forced into a corner, the Swordmaster had to retract his blade and jump back.

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  Kael seized the initiative. His sword-light surged like a rainbow, his body moving like a lightning bolt. He pulled a long, narrow afterimage across the stage—a streak like a startled swan.

  Chase!

  He couldn't let the Swordmaster catch his breath. This was the strategy Kael had spent the entire previous night meticulously refining: disrupt the Swordmaster's combo flow at all costs, then never let go.

  The two shadows collided repeatedly across the stage. Every exchange was a "touch-and-go"—lightning-fast strikes followed by immediate repositioning. Inside the crystal ball, the imagery looked like two black streaks tearing at each other, yet moving with the grace of butterflies flitting through flowers. It was a dizzying, hypnotic display.

  Squelch!

  The sound of steel rending flesh echoed clearly. Both shadows froze.

  A moment later, the Swordmaster tumbled from the air, landing on one knee. From a wound on his chest, a small fountain of crimson blood pooled onto the stage.

  The Swordmaster rose slowly, gave Kael a respectful fist-palm salute, and leapt off the stage.

  [Battle Ended. You Win!]

  The voice rang in Kael’s mind. Three massive, glowing words—YOU WIN—floated above the arena. The flashy special effects were bright enough to practically blind Blood Wolf and Ying Feng.

  "What happened? He... he actually won?"

  "Boss, you're way too strong! How is this even possible?!"

  Blood Wolf and Ying Feng were shouting in a mix of shock and awe, nearly ready to bow down and worship the man.

  Ying Xue and Ling Xiao were even more stunned, standing frozen like statues, unable to find their voices. With Ling Xiao’s discerning eye, he understood the gravity of what he had just seen. The Swordmaster’s techniques were easily on par with the Imperial Protectors.

  But Kael had defeated him. Did that mean this Shop Manager’s combat prowess was superior to a Grand Blademaster?

  "No, that’s impossible. Absolutely impossible," Ling Xiao muttered, shaking his head to dispel the ridiculous thought.

  Ying Xue swallowed hard. With Kael’s terrifying martial skill, she wouldn't last three moves before losing her life. Thank goodness this guy just wants to run a shop...

  I can't believe I actually pulled it off.

  On the surface, Kael remained unmoved, wearing a look that said "all according to plan." In reality, he was doing backflips in his mind. He had struggled for a day and a night without success, only to win now.

  "Two total scrubs."

  Kael spared a glance for Blood Wolf and Ying Feng. Then, with a deadpan expression, he stood up, tucked his hands behind his back, and drifted back toward the counter with the aura of a supreme grandmaster. He made it look as if the battle had been a trivial, everyday occurrence.

  "Ying Feng, let's go. We're testing the gear in the forest," Ying Xue said, dragging a protesting Ying Feng out of the shop.

  Ling Xiao remained. He walked up to the counter, hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke. "Manager Kael... those crystal balls. Are they for sale?"

  "What?" Kael dug a finger into his ear, thinking he’d misheard.

  This guy was already buying weapons, armor, and pills—now he wanted the "hardware" too? Setting aside the fact that there were only twenty and they were out of stock, the System would never allow it.

  Ling Xiao repeated his request.

  "Not for sale," Kael shook his head firmly. He’d heard it clearly the first time; he just didn't know how to break the news gently.

  "Manager Kael, price is no object. This item has an incredibly significant strategic value to me," Ling Xiao emphasized the "blank check" nature of the offer.

  "It’s not about the price. It's a non-sale item. If you wish to use it, you are more than welcome in my shop." Kael’s tone returned to its usual flat, uninterested state.

  "If that is your final word, I won't press further." Ling Xiao wasn't an unreasonable man. Since Kael had designated it "Not for Sale," he dropped the idea of ownership. At worst, he’d just bring his people here and use the shop as a training outpost.

  Blood Wolf gave Kael a deep, lingering look before gritting his teeth and sitting back down in his booth. Since the Boss had proven the opponents could be beaten, then if the Boss could do it, why couldn't he?

  "From now on, the Blood Wolf Squad will come here for special training in shifts!"

  Blood Wolf thought as he prepared for his next round of suffering. Being the only one getting slaughtered is too lonely.

  With the matter settled, the focus shifted. Before the onset of the Great Beast Tide, the monster population in the Cloud Mist Forest was beginning to surge.