The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 230 - You Thought The Meteor Was On The Chain, But It Was Me! Elua!

Chapter 230: Chapter 230 - You Thought The Meteor Was On The Chain, But It Was Me! Elua!

The meteor hammer’s weighted end spun with the same smooth control that had scored against Qat twice in their first match. She watched the chain’s movement with different eyes than earlier. The swordswoman understood its patterns and saw the tells in how Aleck shifted his grip before each ingrained sequence.

Changes that could send it flying like a cannon shot.

The first three points came in quick succession. Each time the chain slung toward her, she was already moving to exploit the brief window before her opponent could recover control. His expression shifted from determination to something more calculating as she continually dismantled his preferred attacks.

He adapted as much as he could. The young man tried new combinations. His chain moved in tighter arcs and lighter feints as its wielder attempted to limit her counter-opportunities. It finally earned him a point when she misjudged the timing.

Of course, after that two more points went to Qat as she pressed her advantage. How much easier it was to read his movements now that she understood the weapon’s full limitations was clear. But it also led to slight overconfidence. Another point to him came from a clever feint that drew her into committing early.

But by then, the outcome was clear. He scored only once more as they both committed to an attack. Then she closed out the match with three precise strikes that left no room for his weapon’s reach to matter.

9-3. A decisive victory that proved how quickly the Yecine heir could adapt when she put her mind to it. A benefit of her spiritual cultivation that left Elua smirking from the sidelines.

As the judge raised his hand to signal Qat’s victory in this region’s semi-final match, Elua was already in motion. Her ’excited’ dash drew immediate attention from the brunette’s soft blue dress fluttering as she rushed toward her victorious spouse.

Aleck absently flicked his wrist to recall the end of his weapon. The motion was more habit than conscious thought after their bout just ended. The meteor hammer’s head traced a smooth arc through the air - directly into the path of the rapidly approaching ’medical fairy’.

Several gasps rose from the cultivator crowd as the weighted end lunged toward the small cultivator. Aleck’s spirit surged with sudden ’panic’, his fingers already moving to twist and redirect the chain. But the Goltbred heiress simply flowed under the obstacle of a weapon without breaking stride. The movement was so precise it appeared almost accidental - or as if she ’luckily’ happened to run right through safely.

"I am so sorry! I didn’t-"

His horrified apology cut short as she used her momentum to launch herself at Qat. The Yecine had already planted the blunt blade into the sand and caught ’his’ wife mid-leap. Spiritual tendrils automatically wrapped tight and Elua’s ’delighted’ giggle pealed across the grounds.

"You won! I knew you would!"

The nearby young man still churned with lingering mortification at the ’near miss’ even as the less observant crowd’s attention shifted to the embracing couple. He was sure they were all judging him because the heiress had nearly been injured because of his carelessness!

"L-lady Goltbred, I truly apologize. If there’s any way I can make amends..."

Her mint eyes opened as she turned in Qat’s arms to face him. That ’sweet’ smile showed no trace of concern over what had happened. He wasn’t even sure if she had been paying attention to the danger in the first place.

’Though she moved so fast...’

"Oh, please don’t worry! Though if you truly feel badly, perhaps we could discuss it over tea sometime? I’ve been quite impressed by your success. Your innovative approach to combat."

In the viewing area, Corde’s eyes were still narrowed at the ’delicate’ healer’s much too-perfect evasion. The mortals wouldn’t have noticed and the cultivators might have been too shocked to pay attention. But she saw the miniscule drift in direction that the small girl made between steps.

Both before she ran across the weapon’s path... and as Aleck reacted and ironically ’foiled’ her first adjustment to stay safe. It wasn’t something an Enchanter should have been capable of by any metric.

As hints of a secret leaked just a little to a much too unsettled party, Qat felt her wife’s spirit fragment pulse with ’satisfaction’. How naturally the recruitment groundwork had been laid! She had intended to approach it more circumspect tomorrow, but making use of his current guilt was too hard to pass up.

"I would be honored, but surely someone of your reputation shouldn’t-"

"Nonsense! I always enjoy meeting talented cultivators who think beyond traditional bounds. I have a couple young friends that will join us. We can make a nice day of it."

The brunette’s enthusiasm drew another flutter of ’uncertainty’ from the young man. His gaze caught on how comfortable she seemed. Hugging tight and in the Yecine heir’s protective embrace. He had heard a few rumors, but seeing it in person was an entirely different matter.

The swordswoman felt her wife’s subtle anticipation of his answer. It clearly wasn’t meant to be just polite.

"She means it genuinely. My El doesn’t tend to make offers she doesn’t expect to follow through on. It’s something we have in common."

Her low voice reached out to Aleck without drawing wider attention. Before he could formulate a response, a now familiar avian cry drew many eyes skyward. The Whispering Skydancer swooped over the grounds, a trail of white ribbon held in its feet and dancing in its wake.

Mint eyes met pigeon blue as Elua used the distraction to twist in her beloved’s hold. The brunette raised herself just enough to press a quick kiss to her beloved’s lips. Several gasps rose from the crowd at the intimate display. The Skydancer seemed to time a low pass perfectly to frame the short moment.

It dropped the ribbon on top of Qatrand’s head before they pulled apart. The voice carried her characteristic sing-song, sounding ’sweet’ despite the intensity of her ’mischief’.

"For winning so magnificently~"

In the Yecine viewing area, the elders’ spirits churned with fresh waves of disapproval. Another moment made into a spectacle. Even those who had a more friendly impression of the ’naive’ girl couldn’t deny the detractors any longer.