'But at the same time, isn't that the best opportunity?'

From the time he'd spent with Xue'er in the past few weeks, he affirmed his notion that struggle was the foundation of strength.

Astoria grew rapidly because he forced her out of comfort, Elena was able to progress through 4th class in no time at all because she suffered and survived.

And Damien, regardless of the help he had from the Void Physique, regardless of his talent, would've never reached his level without suffering.

Suffering that turned him into a masochist built character, built strength, and built fortitude. Even if he was granted the chance to go back and do it again, he wouldn't try to lessen his suffering.

In fact, he'd try harder and suffer harder so he could grow even faster than he did in the present timeline.

'It should happen in another day.'

His mind cleared. "Emotion" no longer ruled his decisions.

He wanted to do what was best for Xue'er and respect her determination for strength.

So this time, he once again wouldn't help her.

"Xue'er, let's go," he said.

"There are still a small number of beasts outside, but they've lessened their hostility so the actual combat taking place has almost completely died down. It's a good time to test your power."

Xue'er nodded immediately.

"Good! I feel a lot more powerful, but it feels weird. I want to know how to fix it," she responded.

Damien turned away from her and began walking towards the exit of the central region, hiding his smile.

'Did she figure out the problem so fast?'

He couldn't help but be proud.

Xue'er giggled to herself as she saw the arcing of his lips from the side, but she didn't say anything, happily following him as he led her out of the tomb with ease.

The duo saw the light of day once more, but the Holy Light Star in front of them was not the same one they came from.

"Big brother..what happened here?!" Xue'er exclaimed with widened eyes.

Damien shrugged. "Calamity happened. Twice, at that. Anyway, it has nothing to do with us. Let's go find you some prey."

"Hm?" Xue'er once again found herself confused, but she kept her mouth shut.

Damien had a habit of saying things she couldn't understand, after all.

Unaware of her thoughts, Damien wrapped her in his mana and flew into the air, scanning the world with his awareness.

"Okay, I found a good spot. And coincidentally.."

He smiled as he teleported, being cautious to not overload Xue'er's senses too much, and arrived at the location in a few minutes.

There were several beast tribes on the ground below, seemingly regrouping after facing mass defeat in the previous tides.

And nearby, the distinct signature of a single woman was fast approaching.

Damien took Xue'er with him and landed on the ground between that figure and the beast tide.

"Xue'er, go fight. If you're going to die, I'll save you."

"H-huh?! That fast?!"

"Isn't that what you wanted?"

"T-true..okay, fine! I'll just do it!"

Xue'er moved somewhat hesitantly towards the beasts, and the approaching aura also calmed significantly.

Xue'er's eyes narrowed. Her arms rose into a boxing position, and a pair of gauntlets appeared, covering her forearms and hands in shining armor.

And then, she charged into the crowd.

"Hiyaaah!" She shouted as she punched into the skull of the nearest beast.

Boom!

A blaze pulsed from her fist and exploded the beast's skin, revealing its thick skull.

ROOOAAAAAR!

The beast finally got the chance to roar in pain, alerting its nearby fellows to Xue'er's attack.

"Hmph! Not so fast!" She said, spinning around and sending an axe kick into the creature's skull.

Crack!

The skull cracked under her pressure, and the beast collapsed to the ground.

Bang!

Xue'er sent a final fist slamming through the beast's skull, thoroughly killing it.I think you should take a look at

At the same time, reinforcements arrived.

A group of twenty beasts from the same tribe as the one she just killed, a group of bear-like creatures, stood on their hind legs and roared into the sky, their rage evident.

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm Xue'er's eyes shook as she backed away, when suddenly..

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The three massive bears at the front of the crowd exploded into bits of flesh and blood.

"Xue'er, don't worry about anything and just fight! You think I'd let those stronger guys bully you?"

Damien's shout came from behind, causing a smile to spread on her face.

"Mm!" She happily uttered, jumping into battle before the bears could recover from the deaths of their leaders.

Before Damien's eyes, she finally began to showcase what she learned from Elvira.

And he wasn't alone in witnessing it.

"So this is the fabled little sister, eh? What a first impression," the individual who just arrived said with a smile.

Damien turned to her with the same expression. "Right? She's pretty cool, if I do say so myself."

Elena walked up next to him and leaned against his shoulder, and like a couple watching their child, they happily enjoyed the show Xue'er presented them.

Bang!

Another head exploded.

Xue'er's method of fighting was a strange mix between barbaric and beautiful.

On her own, she was truly brutal. She used her body as a weapon, slamming her tiny fists out with enough power to burst the environment with pure air pressure.

However, around her swirled a mystical grouping of natural spirits that emerged from all around when they sensed her presence.

They were mostly spirits of earth and air, and upon Xue'er's prompting, they emitted furious bursts of elemental power that dispersed the crowds of beasts and crippled the weaker ones.

It was a true surprise that Xue'er had a relatively established fighting style already.

Or rather, it turned out Damien had been severely underestimating the Sanctuary.

It couldn't be helped.

He'd been dealing with Demigods and Supremes so often in recent days that anything under the Holy Land level looked the same to him, but when it came to training geniuses, the likes of Elvira and Bai Longxuan were more than capable.

'Speaking of, I wonder how those guys are doing? It's been a while since they've come out.'

Damien hadn't paid attention to their power levels in a while, and he suddenly got curious.

But now wasn't the time.

Now, the stage was Xue'er's..

..and she was making full use of it.

***

"What the hell was that?!"

A voice boomed through the first banquet hall.

It belonged to an elder from Flame Heaven Holy Land, directed at Luciel, who stood calmly at the front of the hall.

"What are you referring to?" He asked, not losing his calm at all.

"What do you think I'm talking about?! This secret realm is bullshit! How dare you expel my geniuses so easily?!" The elder roared.

He'd been utterly humiliated. Within a few days of their entrance, the geniuses of his Holy Land were obliterated by powerful beasts, and—

"—there was even a True Dragon among them! Say, is the Heavenly Clan trying to provoke my Flame Heaven Holy Land?!"

Luciel raised his brow.

"Hm? How could that be possible? Our Heavenly Clan was chosen to host this assembly because the people trust our integrity. Have you not thought that, perhaps, your geniuses were just too weak?"

"You..!"

"Elder, that's enough!"historical

The Holy Master of the sect appeared and pulled the elder back.

"I apologize for his behavior," he said to Luciel, retreating without another word.

Luciel's eyes glimmered with a mysterious light as he watched them leave.

'It seems..they've begun to show themselves.'