Chapter 131: Nerissa vs Noli (2)

Nerissa and Noli stood opposite each other on the cold stone floor of the private duel grounds.

The quiet underground facility felt eerily sterile, well-lit by LED fixtures distributed evenly around the vast concrete room.

Nerissa narrowed her eyes, stepping into the center ring with complete composure. "You still don’t get it, do you? Absolute family obedience is the only reason we hold supreme power over this entire region. Our lineage pride isn’t just a title—it’s what keeps us at the top."

Noli let out a dry, mocking laugh, rolling his shoulders as he met her sharp gaze without a hint of fear. "Lineage pride? Don’t make me laugh, Nerissa. You’re just spewing all that high-and-mighty nonsense because you’re desperate to become the next family head. You don’t care about the family—you just want the crown."

Nerissa’s expression darkened instantly, her jaw tightening as her eyes flashed with cold resolve. "If taking the crown means keeping this family from falling apart because of traitors like you and Terrence, then so be it. Even if I have to waste a genius like you."

Without another word, a heavy, suffocating wave of power erupted around her as she activated her initial Skill Share stance.

The fierce, translucent aura of her contracted beast materialized around her body, turning the surrounding air visibly dense and freezing cold.

’This is a Death Duel. Whoever wins gets to dictate the loser’s life,’ Noli thought to himself as he let out a quiet sigh. ’But it really shouldn’t end with one of us dying today.’

Seeing the lethal intent shining in her eyes, Noli completely dropped his relaxed posture. He activated his own Skill Share and drew his dark blade with a single, smooth pull. Its sharp form materialized directly from the volatile mana of the beast he shared a bond with—a weapon so unique that Nerissa instinctively braced herself for the fight.

’That’s the Star Dark Sword Skill he created through his pure soul bond with his beast,’ Nerissa noted internally, her eyes tracking the blade’s dark glow. ’It’s a Skill he can use even if his beast doesn’t naturally have it in its arsenal. How terrifying...’

But Nerissa had chosen this path specifically to ensure that future problems wouldn’t grow stronger. If Noli was planning to be a weed in the family’s grand garden, then she had to uproot him right now.

BANG!

Nerissa suddenly exploded forward from her former position, leaving behind spider-web cracks on the stone floor from the sheer momentum of her kick.

Launching straight at Noli, Nerissa covered her entire frame with the volatile mana of her beast. The phantom spirit of a King Badger Beast ran through her veins, showcasing the special soul bond she shared with her creature.

If Noli could create an entirely new Skill out of his soul bond, then Nerissa was capable of creating a massively amplified physical connection with hers.

To be exact, she was far more powerful in hand-to-hand combat than her beast alone, which was why she never relied on summoning it directly.

Noli raised his sword with a calm, focused expression, thick veins popping along his forearms as he braced for impact. He stood his ground firmly, but Nerissa’s direct fist didn’t connect with his blade. Instead, she halted her forward momentum abruptly before contact, twisting her hips to change the trajectory of her punch.

Aiming straight for Noli’s exposed liver side, she drove her fist forward. With only a split second to react, Noli shifted his elbow lower to shield his side.

Bracing against the heavy impact, he was launched backward several meters, but Nerissa pursued him instantly.

Appearing above him in mid-air before he could even land, Nerissa pulled her arm back to strike again. But at that exact moment, Noli’s Star Dark Sword sparkled softly—as if tiny, glowing stars were embedded within its dark edge.

He swung his blade upward, connecting his sword skill directly against Nerissa’s downward strike. A sharp explosion echoed through the whole facility as two massive forces collided.

The stone ground ground into fine dust beneath them as the shockwave forced them to separate and land far apart.

Nerissa’s sharp eyes immediately shifted toward Noli’s sword, but the dark blade suddenly disappeared. Instead of re-engaging, Noli lowered his stance slightly, looking around the room as if he were waiting for something incoming.

Confused by his sudden lack of hostility, Nerissa lowered her body as well, her instincts flaring.

BOOM!

A massive explosion detonate on the upper floors, causing the heavy ground beneath their feet to tremble violently and disrupting their duel.

The deep shaking lasted for about five terrifying seconds before the underground facility returned to a tense quiet.

’What on earth was that?’ Nerissa wondered, her eyes darting toward the reinforced ceiling.

"I guess we have to stop this duel now," Noli said calmly, checking the glowing screen of his digital watch. "Terrence is here."

BZZT!

[Code Black! Code Black! Inner Estate Perimeter Breached! Engage and Kill Terrence!]

Both of their digital watches flashed with the exact same high-priority notification. Nerissa stood up straight, deactivating her active Skill Share as the translucent aura dissolved around her.

She darted toward Noli with an extremely irritated expression painted across her face. She had desperately wanted to settle their fight right here and now, but an infinitely greater threat had just landed on the upper grounds.

’Why would Terrence attack the main estate right now?’ she thought, her mind racing. ’Didn’t he just kill Uncle Irad an hour ago? Is he really that overconfident that, after fighting a junior elder of the family, he thinks he can attack the entire head estate immediately?’

Nerissa shook her head in frustration as she slowly strode toward the heavy metallic stairs that led to the upper ground.

"Don’t even think about helping Terrence, you traitor," she warned, turning around to glare at Noli. But when she looked back, the space behind her was completely empty. "...Fuck."

Meanwhile, on the surface level of the inner estate, barely a few minutes had passed since the perimeter was breached.

Standing calmly in the center of the court, Terrence was already stepping through deep puddles of blood, surrounded by the lifeless bodies of security guards scattered across the shattered pavement in their failed tactical gear.