Chapter 367: Lourdes Vs Elif

As that familiar, comfortable sensation washed through me, I felt any pain vanish from my body while my Qi was quickly restored, though it did take a few seconds as my reserves were practically empty at this point. Once I had returned to peak condition, I grabbed Hokori from the ground and gazed opposite of me, waiting for who would be my next opponent, though when I took a second to think about it, I was skeptical if there was another person.

'Hmm, if every projection is that of someone who has lived, then how many more are stronger than Charuli? He was a challenging opponent, and as I'm the perfect, most talented to ever exist, there can't be too many more opponents for me to face. Unless, of course, the Spire artificially strengthens them by increasing their cultivation base.' Thought Elif lightly with a thoughtful expression as he gently brushed aside his purple streak of hair while gracefully swinging Hokori.

To my surprise, my opponent didn't immediately appear, instead, it took several seconds, though eventually, she began manifesting before me; however, unlike the other twenty-four opponents, I instantly noticed a difference with her. All my previous opponents were merely projections formed using Qi, and they were slightly opaque; yet, the woman before me… She was different; instead of looking like a mere projection, she looked… Alive, as if I were facing a living being.

The woman before me was of darker skin, similar to me, and had long, flowing silver hair, pointy ears, golden eyes, and a lithe yet graceful figure; she was an incredibly beautiful woman, on that even I found difficult to look away from, though what was the most striking about her was the golden star on her forehead, and it was obvious where she hailed from.

"There is only one woman as beautiful as you… Progenitor Lourdes." Said Elif with a knowing smirk as he glanced at the young Lourdes, who faintly smiled.

"The one only, my dear descendant; ever since I agreed with Charuli's demand, this is the first time I've been summoned for an opponent, and what better for it to be from my Empire." Remarked Lourdes with a soft smile as she deeply gazed at Elif, her eyes wandering around her figure, causing a faint blush to adorn her cheeks.

"Oh, what a lucky woman your sister is." Muttered Lourdes quietly, her words but a whisper, too quiet for Elif to hear.

"Hmm, can you repeat that?" Asked Elif curiously as he stepped forward, wishing to hear, though Lourdes simply smiled with a faint chuckle.

"Fufu, it was nothing, my descendant. Now, shall we do what we're supposed to? Or do you still wish to speak with a younger version of me?" Asked Lourdes lightly with a faint smile as she lowered her stance and raised her sword, while her golden eyes reflected Elif's figure within them, causing him to raise an eyebrow.

Smirking in amusement, I swiftly backed away, standing at a more appropriate distance as I brought Hokori to my side while I focused on Lourdes.

"I'd like to return to my dear Elaine, so I suppose we should get this over with, though no hard feeling once I defeat you." Replied Elif with a faint smirk as he channeled Hokori with sword will and his Qi, causing it to emit an ethereal, flaming purple aura, prompting Lourdes to smile.

"Ho, but of course not my descendant; besides, I'd be more than happy to be defeated by one of my own." Said Lourdes with a smile as she flicked her sword, coating it in sword will while it radiated an ethereal goldish aura, causing Elif to faintly smile.

I already anticipated how difficult fighting Lourdes would be, but the thought of doing so caused my heart to beat in excitement; it's been so long since I've engaged in such a battle, and I was more than eager. Waiting for Lourdes to make the first move, she didn't disappoint as she brought her sword outward and quickly slashed at me from a distance twice, causing a black sword wave in the form of an X to speedily head right for me.

Smirking, I tightened my grip around Hokori and powerfully slashed, launching a heavenly scar as my purple sword wave collided with Lourdes's attack, yet in a monument display of our strength, our two attacks violently exploded, releasing Qi in all directions while I used it to conceal my actions as I flew towards Lourdes.

"Seems we held the same idea." Said Elif lightly as he slashed forward, Hokori clashing with the blade of Lourdes as she gazed at him while their swords struggled for superiority.

"It would seem so, wouldn't it?" Remarked Lourdes softly as she narrowed her eyes at Elif before twirling around his blade using her sword and kicking his face.

Using the force of her kick, I allowed myself to fly backward, giving me more time to react to her actual attack as several X-shaped sword waves headed right for me; bringing my hand upwards, I condensed my Qi around the tip of my finger before releasing it as a small purple beam was shot from my finger. Like an unstoppable force, my Gyakusatsu smashed through every single X-shaped sword wave, though by the time it reached Lourdes, it had lost most of its power, allowing her to effortlessly swat it away with the back of her hand.

"You're using that technique, my descendant? You must have a lot of Qi if that's the case." Said Lourdes lightly as she glanced at Elif, who faintly smirked while blowing on his finger.

"You could say that, but shouldn't you already know that? You're our Progenitor, after all." Stated Elif with a faint smirk as he gazed at Lourdes, whose figure slowly blurred away, causing him to furrow his brows.

'An afterimage, huh? Two can play at that game.' Thought Elif as he used the Elven Body Flicker technique, causing his figure to remain despite him no longer truly standing there.

Of course, such a thing didn't work, and I was forced to narrowly block Lourdes from behind, though I had lost my balance in the process; naturally, she tried to take advantage, but by quickly launching a weak heavenly scar, one that only momentarily slowed her down, it granted me enough time to regain my bearings as I fended off her numerous attacks.

"Well, I only have memories from my time during the Primordial Epoch and a few other things, though that is about it." Replied Lourdes lightly as she speedily dashed around Elif while attacking from all directions with inborn grace that never left her figure, yet none of her attacks managed to sully his perfect body.

"Oh, is that so? That must mean you don't know of the curse; that is both a blessing and a curse ignorance can provide." Remarked Elif softly as he powerfully slashed at Lourdes, forcing her to block it though it sent her flying through the sky.

Bringing my sword to my side, my eyes traced Lourdes, and the instant she stopped moving, I thrust Hokori forward, launching a powerful purple beam from the tip of my blade as it streaked through the air and approached Lourdes. Though with masterful skill of the blade, she diverted it just slightly as it whizzed right by her ear, causing me to click my tongue as I raised Hokori before slashing downwards, launching a massive heavenly scar that blocked our view from each other.

Without wasting a moment, I raised my hand into the air, manifesting a large purple palm above the spot where my heavenly scar would collide with her, yet in slight surprise, I saw a bluish glow from behind my purple sword wave, only for a think blue, horizontal sword wave to slice through my heavenly scar while speedily heading right for me at an impressive speed.

Barely able to bring Hokori up in time, I blocked her bluish sword wave and slammed my hand downwards, increasing the speed of my purple palm as it followed right behind Lourdes, slowly catching her while she flew right for me.

'Ho, go ahead, I don't mind tanking my own attack; my physique is much stronger between us.' Thought Elif with a smirk as he eyed Lourdes, who flashed him a lovely smile, causing a certain someone to dangerously narrow her eyes, sparking with madness.

Unfortunately, Lourdes didn't seem foolish enough to do such a thing and moved out of the way at the last second, causing me to wave my hand as my purple palm fizzled into nothingness just before touching me. Slicking my hair, I raise my sword, blocking another bluish sword wave from Lourdes while she flew around, attacking me from somewhat of a distance, forcing me onto the defensive, though with several powerful heavenly scars that destroyed every attack, Lourdes launched my way, I lunged towards her, closing our distance.

Instead of flying away, Lourdes headed right for it, our speed increasing as we brought our swords close to us before slashing each other once we got close; continuing to fly, we passed each other before eventually coming to a stop.

"Really, must you aim for the face?" Asked Elif in slight annoyance as he touched the bloody wound on his cheek while turning around and glancing at Lourdes, who was perfectly fine.

"Ah, I aimed for the neck, but your big sword got in the way." Said Lourdes softly as she gazed at Elif, who felt slightly awkward under her gaze.

'Am I thinking too deeply, or?' Thought Elif lightly as he gave Lourdes a weird look before shaking his head and flicking Hokori, cleaning it of blood.

"Well, I also aimed for the neck as well." Said Elif, his words prompting a shallow yet long gash to suddenly appear diagonally across Lourdes's, cutting open her clothes and exposing some of her breasts.