My Goddess is Good at Pretending

Chapter 579: Clash of Fire and Light

Mizushima Katsue healed Nyla’s injuries with her healing fire. After it was done, she finally heaved a sigh of relief. "Why did you need to push yourself this far, Nyla-san?"

She had no idea why, but Nyla, who was usually smart, suddenly became reckless. Nyla’s steel magic was at the most disadvantageous position in front of Remi’s lightning and thunder. Still, Nyla overdid it despite the predicted 100% defeat.

"Thanks, Katsue, but I need to remind you a thing. I also wanted to surrender at first, but I couldn’t do it..." Nyla remained lying on the bed, looking at her comrades solemnly.

"What is it, Nyla-san?" Katsue asked, but she knew Nyla spoke it to everyone, not aimed just at her.

"This competition is to honor the Glorious God and also our final test before our hero expedition journey against the Demon King and his demon army. Show your best as I can feel the divine beings who bestowed us with power are watching us from somewhere. Mashiro has also realized it." Nyla glanced at Mashiro, asking for confirmation to strengthen her statement.

"Yeah, I can feel them, albeit faintly. There are some presences. The Glorious God is watching this Martial Arts Competition with his Council of Gods." Mashiro crossed his arms and nodded in reply.

He actually could only sense the divine intents of several divine beings. Still, he couldn’t see or sense their actual presence. Regardless, the Gods were obviously watching from somewhere.

"..." Liu Kang remained silent in the corner of the room as he observed Mashiro from behind. The White Hero was also one of the threats to his plan, but nobody had yet to fully know Mahiro’s full potential and cheat abilities. Yet, more variables emerged one after another, and that made him a bit lost.

"The match is over outside. It’s my turn to fight Lady Rafa, the Holy Priestess. You should be fine now, Nyla. So, let’s return. I want you to watch my fiery battle." Richard received a notification signal that it was almost his turn. He was excited about it, but he wanted his comrades to watch and cheer for him.

"Bah! I’m sure you’re excited because your opponent is a breathtaking beauty, a lecher. Just remember you got beaten like a pig because you were so despicable as to take advantage of Miss Camy in the previous round, pervert beast." Harriet grimaced with a hint of contempt.

"Hey, I did it to save her from the fall damage. Who would have thought she is so petty and conservative." Richard rubbed his cheek. The beating didn’t hurt much, but the face slap was personal, and it inflicted the emotional damage instead.

"Richard, please refrain from overdoing it. They are the holiness of the Elysion Church, and of course, they won’t allow anyone to touch them. Lady Rafa holds a special status for sure because of her extremely powerful holy magic. You won’t get away if you take advantage of her, and I probably can’t help you out." Mashiro sighed as he had to remind his best friend.

"Mm, I heard that the faithful servants of the church, especially the priestesses and saintesses are literally married to their God. They will never allow anyone to touch them, and if that happens, they will kill the offenders with no mercy." Katsue tapped her chin, feeling that the church ladies were pretty extremist.

"Hey, you said it as if I was a horny beast who would pounce on any beautiful girl. See, I never even hit the girls at our party. I know my boundary." Richard just laughed it off, but he received the reminder.

"What do you mean by that, bastard? Are you saying we’re ugly?" Harriet felt annoyed somehow. She jumped up, trying to a rider kick Richard from behind.

Unfortunately, Richard’s reflex was too good. He caught Harriet’s leg before it could touch him.

"Come on, are you aiming at my family’s jewel from behind, girlie? Be careful with your grumpy attitude or nobody will want to marry you. It would be a little better if you were a tsundere, but this is like yandere but no love involved." Richard leaped away, taking a safe distance from the violent archer.

"Hmph!" Harriet harrumphed and crossed her arms.

"Let’s go." Mashiro announced. Since Nyla was already fine, then they should return to the arena.

The Elysion Church’s representatives, the strongest competitors for the Hero Party still have seven people, while the Hero Party only has four left. They shouldn’t underestimate the other prodigies who managed to advance this far.

Even so, Mashiro could be careless towards the others as he was only wary toward the Elysion Church’s representatives, especially the lucky one who advanced to the fourth round through double lucky free passes, Miss Gabriel, the Elven Valkyrie, or he preferred to refer her as the Angel of Revelation.

It was the fourth match of the third round, a match between Richard Rees, the Scarlet Swordsmaster, versus Lady Rafa, the Holy Priestess. The emcee called forth the participants to the arena.

"I’m fabulous." Richard Rees jumped high and surfed through the air towards the arena field using his fire sword.

He landed with a stunning display of fire mastery to impress the spectators. And yes, he received many cheers from the spectators, especially the young girls.

His crimson cloak billowed behind him as he held his gleaming blade high. His aura burned with scarlet flames, and his eyes were sharp, reflecting the fire of determination.

On the other side, a figure who could not have been more different, Rafaela, the Holy Priestess, arrived with an ethereal grace of serenity. She walked in the air and came down as the holiness.

Clad in pure white robes adorned with gold, her every step seemed to radiate an ethereal light. Her long golden hair flowed like gentle sunlight, and her emerald eyes, tender yet wise, held no hint of aggression.

In her hands, she carried a golden staff. Its top was adorned with a glowing crystal that pulsed with divine energy.

"..." Rafaela stood with no word. She had not come to conquer or claim victory as she held something far more profound.

She would test Richard Rees, the Scarlet Swordsmaster, to the best of his abilities without using her true power. Apart from that, her primary aim was to convey the message and lesson.

As the warrior with high firepower in the Hero Party, the Scarlet Swordsmaster served as the 2nd damage dealer, second only to the White Hero. However, Richard Rees became quite relatively eccentric and arrogant, and he should tone it down a bit.

"It is an honor to face such a breathtaking beauty like you, Lady Rafa. We’re both in 6th Rank, but I need to remind you that my fire can easily harm even the 8th Rank expert." Richard greeted the beauty with a subtle hint of warning.

He was not confident that he could hold back if his opponent was strong. Therefore, he had to ensure his opponent was ready to face his firepower.

"Hmm, you are too full of yourself, Mr. Richard Rees." Rafaela closed her eyes with a faint smile adorning her serene face.

"???" Richard wondered, but the lady before him didn’t even put him in the eye. She should have seen how he defeated his opponent and how dangerous his scarlet flames were. So, she came well-prepared.

The emcee announced the start, the match began with a roar from the crowd, but Rafaela remained unmoved.

Richard advanced first. His sword engulfed in flames as he charged toward her with blistering speed. His movements were precise and his strikes lethal, but his opponent was not fazed. With a simple motion of her staff, she summoned a barrier of radiant light, deflecting his fiery blade with ease.

"A powerful light barrier? Not bad." Richard recalled about how Ash got defeated by Micka.

Therefore, he pressed harder with higher firepower. He unleashed his sword slashes and blazing flames with continuous strikes, each one faster and more powerful than the last.

Flames erupted with every swing, scorching the ground around them, but the Holy Priestess remained calm. Her movements were graceful, almost effortless, as she countered each strike with measured precision.

"!!!" Richard soon realized something in between. The Holy Priestess wasn’t just fighting, but rather to guide and test him. She met his every attack with just enough force to parry or deflect, never retaliating with lethal intent. It was as if she were leading him through a dance, and her every movement resembled a lesson in restraint and control.

"Hmm?" Rafaela noticed her opponent increased his furious pace drastically, but she never once lost her composure. She moved with an elegance that captivated the audience and, more so, her opponent. However, she only tried to show her progress and impress her master.

Richard, though fierce and relentless, began to realize that this fight was not about victory. It was about something deeper... something he couldn’t yet grasp, but he understood it was what he desperately sought after!

With a renewed vigor, Richard released his restraint as he understood that the Holy Priestess could take it all, his everything, even his ultimate moves! He had yet to find someone who could guide him properly, not even the White Hero could do it, and he finally found someone who could face him with such serenity even though they were in the same rank.

As the battle continued to the heated clashes of scarlet flame and golden light, the arena field began to melt as the temperature became too hot. The barrier that protected the spectators began to turn reddish, but the imperial mages tried their best to prevent the scorching hot temperature from escaping the battlefield.

"That’s about the message, hmm~" Miko faintly smiled as she understood Rafaela’s intention.

It was clear to guess that Rafaela could easily win this match even without using one’s true power and divine blessing. Yet, Rafaela chose to guide the hero and remind him to behave, forcing him to put down his self-complacent and eccentric arrogance.