Chapter 330


    “Why do you ask?”


    “If you’re to stay with Cobalt Strike, you should strive to be the best and aim to be the next


    Commander, one of the eight rulers of the Nortnds. The Commander has already offered you this


    opportunity, so why not ept it?"


    "Do you wish for me to be the Commander?"


    Celesse''s radiant smile warmed vin''s heart. "I once hoped you''d break free from it all, leave this


    ce, and carve your own path. But now..."


    "Now you hope I''ll stay?"


    "Now, I wish even more that you could leave."


    vin chuckled as well. "I never dreamt of bing a Commander. What I look forward to most is


    settling the Mallister family, developing the Stormcast, and then traveling carefree across thends,


    seeking adventure, witnessing differentndscapes, meeting various folk, and experiencing all sorts


    of novel Combat Magic, pursuing higher levels of Energy."


    Before, vin had not dared to dream of such things, always worried that the secret of the Kings''


    eptance would be revealed, and how he might protect the Mallister family. Now, with the


    protection of Cobalt Strike, he could leave once his vengeance wasplete.


    Celesse sat on her heels, her smile soft and melodic. "When we were little, you took my hand and


    said that one day you would cross mountains and seas to see the ends of the world."


    vin scratched his head. "You still remember those words?"


    Celesse teased him with a yfulugh, "You made many a grand boast when you were small,


    always so serious, never blushing."


    vin smiled awkwardly. "A child''s folly."


    "How are Helna and the others?" Celesse actually missed the carefree times of childhood and the


    innocence of those days.


    "They''re well, just getting used to their freedom again and a bit fearful."


    "When will we return? Let''s go back together and see them."


    "Tomorrow! With the Cobalt Strike matter resolved, it''s time to give them peace of mind." vin


    leaped up, extending his hand towards Celesse. "Challenge!"


    "You won''t spare even me?"


    "I''ve just had a breakthrough, and so have you, let''s spar and fine-tune our skills." vin could


    suppress Roald but was not sure he could do the same with Celesse. In terms of talent alone,


    Celesse was a match for Darron of the Order of the Ster Precepts!


    Celesse drew her enchanted sword and suddenly asked, "What''s the story with E?"


    "She''s here to help. With her around, the Commanders wouldn''t dare to act rashly."


    Celesse looked into vin''s eyes with a smile that was not quite a smile. "What''s this I hear about


    you and her? Rumors say you''ve pledged yourselves to each other for life?"


    "It''s not as exaggerated as that. If E were that simple at face value, she wouldn''t be E." vin


    knew his rtionship with E best. Her behavior and words seemed open, her affection like that of


    a lover, but in reality, it was not so. Every time she slung her arm around him, she maintained a


    clever distance, never truly pressing close. Especially that time in the cave, which might have been


    their first real moment of intimacy, and it ended with a resounding p.


    "Does she fancy you?"


    "She might have a fondness, but more likely, it''s curiosity. She wants to get close, to understand


    me." In vin''s heart, he knew E sought to conquer him. E would always look into his eyes


    when jesting, waiting for a flicker of emotion, but vin remained unmoved, time and again, stirring


    E''spetitive spirit.


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    All in all, there were various factors at y, vin couldn''t quite exin it, but he knew E bore no


    ill will, and that was enough.


    "The battle begins, my secret technique, Shadow Step." Celesse suddenly created three


    afterimages in her spot, appearing in front of vin in a blink, like a graceful fairy materializing


    before him. Her sword shed like a streak of light, aimed straight at vin''s throat, devoid of


    flourish but filled with a chilling intent to kill.


    "Well met," vin''s spirit surged, as the Dawnedge de rang out in his hand, ready for a powerful


    counterstrike.


    Sharp! Precise! Fierce! An all-out effort!


    And yet...


    Celesse''s forward charge astonishingly retreated five steps away in the next second. Then she


    reappeared to his left and right with a soft thrust...


    The de''s gleam appeared, and a line of blood marked vin''s shoulder.


    "Golden blood!" Celesse eximed in surprise, having just heard of it from vin, not quite


    grasping the notion until now, seeing the golden hue for herself.


    vin, however, was stunned. What just happened? Was that hallucination Craft? How could she


    possibly retreat at such speed, defying all logic?


    Celesseughed lightly, her presence even more ethereal. I warned you, Shadow Step! A secret


    technique of movement!"


    "You can change positions at will?" vin''s surprise turned to excitement; his fighting spirit soared,


    and he suddenly spun around,unching a fierce assault.