Seeing Yae-hime with that fox tail manifested, the expressions of the audience instantly changed. There was both shock and admiration. The swaying fox tail, paired with her classical robes and peerless beauty, made her seem like Daji2 reborn.

“Sis, you look as beautiful as a painting!” Mylene clasped her small hands before her chest and spoke in excitement.

“Ah~ this is my first time seeing Princess in this form in reality. I’m in love, absolutely in love!” Pixie’s eyes grew hazy, her legs turned weak, and an unnatural flush spread across her face.

Several onlookers with weaker mental fortitude were instantly bewitched, their minds thrown into disarray. Even though the aura that Princess now exuded was no different from that of a god of slaughter, they still felt an urge to approach her, like moths drawn to a flame.

“Hey!” At that moment, a Grandmaster at the front let loose a thunderous shout, jolting everyone awake. “If you want to die, then step forward.” The Grandmaster’s expression was stern as he spoke.

Upon hearing this, those spectators who had taken steps forward shuddered in horror, their hearts chilled.

“Fox… fox spirit!” someone cried out in terror.

“This woman carries a demonic allure!”

“Yes, yes, just now it was like I was under a spell!”

“She’s a calamity incarnate!”

“Far too terrifying!”

The audience members who had retreated back to their places were left shaken and full of lingering fear. If they had rushed into the battle between two Grandmasters, it would have ended in a bloodbath. Those with weaker strength would have been torn to shreds in an instant.

Lucky stared fixedly at Yae-hime. His face remained calm, but inwardly he was shaken. This young Grandmaster was clearly far stronger than the usual Primary Grandmaster. That last exchange had given him the illusion of brushing death itself. It felt as though, had he been half a beat slower, his body would have been completely pierced through by that fox tail.

Yae-hime wore a calm expression, but inside she was irritated. She had originally planned to toy with Lucky casually until her body fully recovered, then take him down in a single blow to shock the entire audience.

‘Some Grandmasters among the spectators are releasing hostile auras. They seem to be my enemies.’

Her intent in intimidating the crowd was not out of vanity. She wanted to warn those Grandmasters not to make a move against her. Otherwise, she would show no mercy. To achieve such an effect, she had to defeat Lucky in a single strike.

If she became entangled with him for too long, complications would inevitably arise. After all, there were too many Grandmasters and transcendents present. Who could say whether they would all suddenly turn on her?

If that happened, she and her allies would be forced into a passive situation. Such an outcome was the last thing Yae-hime wanted to see.

However, Lucky’s opening strike had been so vicious that she was left with no choice but to delay her recovery and clash head-on with him.

‘The final strike will be the key.’ Since she could no longer follow her original plan, she could only adapt as the battle unfolded. Yae-hime steadied her heart, her expression gradually turning serious.

The two of them locked eyes, neither making the next move.

Lucky remained filled with caution. Although he had great confidence in himself, the strength this opponent displayed was far from ordinary. He had to tread carefully. Otherwise, if he capsized in such a shallow gutter, it would not be fun at all.

‘Even if there is only a one percent chance of that happening, I will never allow it!’ Lucky was both confident and cautious.

As the two stared each other down, the atmosphere grew unnaturally oppressive. Even though neither had moved, the collision of their fierce auras alone exerted an indescribable pressure on everyone present.

**Tap!**

Suddenly, the quiet square echoed with the sound of a footstep. In the next instant, Yae-hime shot forward. This time, she intended to strike first!

Lucky’s eyes sharpened, his expression shifting abruptly as though facing a mortal threat. In that very moment, he treated Yae-hime as a powerful enemy worthy of his full strength. If necessary, he was even prepared to unleash his strongest means to kill her outright.

With a swish, Yae-hime unfurled all nine tails at once, launching a storm-like assault. The way she moved, it seemed as if she intended to beat Lucky to death in an instant.

But Lucky was no weakling. As the fox tails came whipping toward him at terrifying speed, he let out a thunderous shout. From behind him, a shadowy specter surged forth, unleashing a furious Tiger-Crane dance!

The clash of their forces detonated into deafening roars.

**Crack!**

The ground could not withstand the level of their power. The heavy stone tiles split apart at frightening speed. From their center, a web of fractures spread outward like a spider’s web.

Witnessing such a terrifying exchange, most of the spectators stood dumbfounded, their hearts shaken to the core. This battle had already gone far beyond the scope of human understanding. It was as though two humanoid monsters were locked in a frenzy of slaughter!

Thrilling—this was no ordinary thrill! Many spectators felt their very blood boil, an inexplicable blaze igniting in their hearts.

Far away in the United States, Mira was also watching the live broadcast, her face etched with undisguised shock. She had truly not expected that Princess would remain so overwhelmingly powerful in the real world!

No, to be precise, she was still somewhat weaker. After all, she carried no equipment, nor did she have any attribute boosts. But even so, as a Grandmaster, her strength was simply outrageous.

“My God, her danger rating ought to be raised yet again!”

A Primary Grandmaster and an Intermediate Grandmaster fighting to a standstill, how could she not be shaken? At this point, even if Mira switched places with Lucky, she would have no absolute confidence in defeating her opponent.

Ronald was also watching this duel, his shock no less than Mira’s. No, in truth, his shock climbed to an even greater height. After all, when they had first met, Princess had only been at the Master level. Compared to now, the difference was like heaven and earth.

“Terrifying… this girl is simply too terrifying!” Staring at the broadcast, Ronald’s entire body trembled, and even his voice quavered when he spoke.

When he first heard that Princess had already reached the Grandmaster level, he had been stunned for a long time before calming down.

While sighing at how the new generation always surpasses the old, he also felt a trace of relief. But now, seeing Princess evenly matched against Lucky, who had advanced to the Intermediate Grandmaster stage, his heart was filled with horror.

What kind of monster was this!? Recalling the moment when he had once suppressed her, Ronald felt as though it had been nothing but a dream. It did not feel real in the slightest.

Clearly, only a short time had passed. Yes, precisely because so little time had passed, it all felt especially unreal.

“…” Fixing his gaze on the broadcast, he remained lost in thought for a long while.

***

Back on the plaza.

Yae-hime and Lucky clashed with fists and feet, their violent exchange unleashing shockwaves that shattered the surrounding ground, hurling rubble into the air and raising clouds of dust.

Such a breathtaking battle left the crowd both enthralled and shaken to the core.

Moments ago, a brick-sized piece of debris had shot past overhead like a cannonball. Had it struck someone head-on, they would have been killed instantly! Fortunately, the powerful experts at the very front had blocked most of the dangers for them.

That particular stone had simply flown too high, slipping through the net. And thankfully, it caused no injuries.

**Boom!**

Suddenly, a deafening blast erupted. Yae-hime and Lucky’s fists collided with brutal force, the mighty impact bursting outward from them in concentric shockwaves!