RISE OF THE MARTIAL GOD

"Take out his finger? As in what? What's he talking about?" Someone asked in confusion.

"Does it mean chop off his fingers?" Another whispered.

"Is this allowed? Even if he's angry, he shouldn't casually say such things. Take out his fingers, my ass."

"Compared to his soul shards and the possibility of losing his life, a finger is nothing. It seems like he's sending her since it's inconvenient to do it personally due to their huge power disparity." Another whispered.

"Even then, can Rona that good for nothing pretty face defeat Leo? Come on, I know she's powerful, but Leo is no pushover either." A young man of about seventeen said, watching with interest.

"Things are getting more interesting. I didn't waste today by coming here. Indeed, it's not a waste at all. It has been a long time since I saw such a good drama." Yang Yang whispered, watching eagerly.

Lord Frost frowned at him, the disapproval in his eyes glaring.

"Brother Yang Yang, why does it seem you're enjoying this too much? Do you like having your cousins fight with their lives on the line? Why do you seem elated because of this? One would think you are among the people pulling strings in the background."

Yang Yang chuckled and turned to Lord Frost.

"Of course, I have to enjoy it. It's not everyday you see two dragons fighting. Besides, I get more curious with each unraveled incident. If Kaiser decides he's not going down alone, I wonder if he will decide to slash some people with him and go down the lane of a tragic hero-genius."

Lord Frost narrowed hia eyes and suddenly chuckled.

"It appears that you're quite dangerous too, brother Yang Yang. You hid pretty well, making everyone think you're unambitious and more focused on business. This wicked thought of yours is truly frightening." He whispered, still smiling warmly at Yang Yang, who returned his smile.

"Now you confuse me, big brother. What do you mean by ambitious? I'm only here to watch a good show. As a philanthropist who is more interested in using money to help the needy, earning money is always my primary concern. What do you mean by wicked and frightening thoughts? You will make some people misunderstand." Yang Yang whispered, still smiling warmly.

"Of course, don't take my jokes too seriously. I just think infighting and scheming against others is not proper." Lord Frost added and looked away, still smiling with his ethereal aura around him.

Rona drew her sword at that moment, making Leo frowned.

"Kaiser, what's the meaning of this? Even if you're the second young master and my big brother, you can't simply unleash your dog on me. Take out his fingers? What do you take me for?" He asked angrily, his eyes spitting flames at Kaiser.

"What? You can steal my soul shard and trap my brother with the intention of killing him, but you're unwilling to lose even a finger? True killers don't fear death. Since you love to get dirty, what's a little blood loss to you?" Kaiser asked, wearing a magnanimous smile.

"Don't go too far! Do you think no one dares to challenge you now? You won't be so arrogant soon enough."

"Oh? Too far? Is that something you should say? When you tricked Rona like that and stole those items, was it too close? Or doesn't your actions count as going too far? Or do you have a special identity I do not know of? You're allowed to attack people but they must not retaliate? Leo, be grateful I'm not a lowly person like you lots. Otherwise, I would have reduced you to a meat ball. You're not qualified to talk back at me!" Kaiser said coldly, floating higher into the air.

"Very well then, it remains to be seen whose fingers will be chopped off." He whispered and called out his double sword.

"Nice one, the crazy lightning sword against the twin sword demon. This is truly a sight that won't be forgotten easily." Amber whispered, watching them eagerly.

Rona quickly made the first move, floating to the air as if she weighed less than a feather. A pretty lightning arc followed the swing of her sword alongside showers of peach flower, bathing the environment in a celestial glow. In contrast, a dark shadow appeared behind Leo. One of his swords was emitting silver rays, while the other was emitting dark red rays, like some wielder of good and evil.

He quickly blocked the lightning strike and the battle began. None of them were holding back. In contrast, Rona seemed to be at a disadvantage because Leo obviously had lots of real battle experience.

"Unexpectedly, Rona is very strong herself. All the moves and footwork she used here are all top notch skills befitting professionals."

"Of course, she's Kaiser's sister after all. I thought Leo would immediately defeat her, but it seems we underestimated Rona. It has been ten minutes already."

"Rona is comparatively weaker than Leo. If you look carefully, you will see that the only reason she has not gotten a single wound on her body is because Kaiser is secretly helping her. Didn't you notice that there's a strand of energy wrapped around her waist. Each time the attack wants to connect, he would bend her to avoid it. Leo is the stronger one." Yang Yang whispered, watching with excitement.

"Rona! I don't have all the time in the world. Stop hesitating." Kaiser suddenly growled, surprising lots of people.

"Stop hesitating? Does this mean she's still holding back?"

"She probably doesn't want to hurt him considering their history. It's too bad Leo doesn't think of her the same way."

Rona suddenly moved without warning, releasing thousands of sword shadows which she released in a flurry within a few minutes. Her sword shadows were fast and unpredictable, and each one was moving in a different direction, making it hard to avoid.

"Holy shit! What sword technique is that? She's so fast—she literally turned into a phantom."

Leo quickly increased the intensity of his own attack, feeling threatened for the first time since the battle began. He suddenly frowned as a sense of foreboding arose in him. He quickly tried to block the sword he felt coming, but another sword shadow quickly zapped through the little finger of his left hand, making blood splatter around.

"You owe me lots. This finger is nothing. Every chance I get, I will come for the debt." Rona whispered into his ear just in time for Kaiser to pull her back. He encircled his arms around her waist and immediately disappeared, leaving the stunned crowd behind.

"What just happened? Did she really chop off his finger just like that?"

*****

Kaiser sat at the roof of his company, drinking as he watched the stars.

"Anthony, have you arrived safely? Where the fuck are you? Are you alright? What are you doing now? Where are you, Anthony?"