Chapter 34: Rogue Threat
The morning sun brought a renewed sense of chaotic energy to the Sterling estate.
Leon spent his early shift meticulously organizing the remaining magical texts in the grand library.
His newly enhanced Agility of one hundred and five points made his movements virtually effortless. He could cross the massive reading room in moments and sort heavy grimoires without breaking a single sweat.
He mentally opened his system interface to review his growing arsenal.
He now possessed five hundred and fifty Shameless Points along with a diverse collection of combat skills including Sword Mastery, Silent Casting, and Kinetic Repulsion. The pervert system was forging him into a highly versatile magical warrior capable of matching the a seasoned guard.
The grand grandfather clock chimed three times signaling the start of his afternoon appointment.
Leon set his feather duster aside and navigated his way toward the eastern courtyard feeling a familiar surge of adrenaline pumping through his veins.
The private training grounds were notably empty today.
The usual crowd of elite guards and arrogant squires had been dismissed leaving the vast expanse of reinforced white marble entirely deserted except for one breathtaking figure standing in the center.
Lady Seraphina Sterling was waiting for him.
She wore a skin tight crimson combat suit constructed from enchanted basilisk leather that hugged every single scandalous curve of her athletic physique.
The material left her toned arms bare and showcased the incredibly dangerous power hiding beneath her beautiful exterior. Her silver hair was tied up in a strict battle braid and her violet eyes locked onto him the moment he stepped onto the arena floor.
Leon casually approached the weapon racks expecting to grab his usual ironwood practice sword but Seraphina shook her head.
"Leave the wooden toys on the rack Leon," she commanded with a predatory smirk that promised immense violence. "You proved yesterday that you possess the raw durability of a vanguard knight. Today we are escalating the curriculum."
She reached down to her hip and smoothly drew a massive real steel broadsword from its leather scabbard.
The razor sharp metal gleamed menacingly in the afternoon sun and a suffocating aura of pure crimson energy instantly ignited along the edge of the blade. The sheer magical pressure radiating from her weapon created a visible distortion in the air around her.
"I want to see how those fast reflexes of yours handle actual lethal force," Seraphina announced while dropping into a flawless offensive stance. "Defend yourself."
Leon did not have a weapon and the Silver Goddess was holding a glowing enchanted blade meant to cleave through solid armor.
He barely had time to process her words before she exploded across the marble arena.
The sheer kinetic force of her charge cracked the stone floor beneath her boots. She swung the heavy steel broadsword in a devastating horizontal arc aimed directly at his neck intending to test his evasion limits.
Leon relied heavily on his monstrous Agility and his passive Sword Mastery to read her footwork.
He ducked smoothly beneath the glowing red blade feeling the searing heat of her aura singe the very tips of his dark hair.
He pivoted on his heel and attempted to create some distance but Seraphina was a relentless martial prodigy. She seamlessly reversed her momentum and brought the sword crashing down in a brutal overhead strike.
The crystal bell chimed wildly in his skull plunging the intense sparring match into a bright pink glow.
[Quest Issued: The Barehanded Master]
[Context: The untamed Silver Goddess wants to test your lethal limits. Show her that mortal weapons are practically useless against a man walking the path of absolute shameless dominance.]
[Objective: Catch the live steel blade directly between your bare palms using Mana Skin and Kinetic Repulsion. Look her in the eyes and tell her she needs to swing much harder.]
[Reward: +20 Strength, System Shop Item ’Minor Regeneration Pill’, 200 Shameless Points.]
[Failure Penalty: The Host will suffer a spontaneous and highly embarrassing wardrobe malfunction resulting in the immediate shredding of his trousers in front of the noble daughter.]
Leon read the penalty and decided he would rather lose his hands than endure that specific humiliation. He stopped retreating and firmly anchored his boots into the marble floor.
He channeled a massive surge of raw magical energy from his expanded core and routed it directly into his palms. His invisible Mana Skin thickened exponentially while his newly acquired Kinetic Repulsion skill primed itself for impact.
Seraphina’s glowing steel broadsword hurtled downward with enough force to split a boulder in half. She expected him to use his Aura Step to flee once again.
Instead Leon raised both of his empty hands high above his head.
He violently clapped his palms together right onto the flat sides of the descending blade. The collision generated a massive shockwave of displaced air that whipped dust across the quiet courtyard.
The heavy enchanted sword stopped dead in its tracks mere inches from Leon’s forehead.
The invisible barrier of Kinetic Repulsion perfectly neutralized the sheer kinetic force of her swing while his Mana Skin prevented the razor sharp edges from slicing into his flesh.
His seventy points of Strength provided the unyielding foundation necessary to hold the weapon firmly in place.
Seraphina froze with her violet eyes blown wide in pure unadulterated shock. Her brilliant tactical mind fractured as she stared at the common servant barehandedly catching her lethal strike without shedding a single drop of blood.
Leon maintained his iron grip on the trapped blade and utilized his magnetic Piercing Gaze to lock directly onto her stunned pupils.
"You are going to have to swing much harder than that Lady Seraphina," Leon stated smoothly offering her a deeply arrogant smirk.
[Quest Completed Successfully!]
[Your trousers remain perfectly intact and securely fastened.]
[Distributing Rewards: +20 Strength, System Shop Item ’Minor Regeneration Pill’, 200 Shameless Points.]
A sudden explosive surge of dense muscular power flooded into his body pushing his total Strength to a staggering ninety points. The physical enhancement made the heavy steel broadsword feel like a fragile twig caught between his hands.
Seraphina let out a breathless melodic laugh and slowly released her grip on the hilt of her sword allowing Leon to hold the weapon entirely on his own.
Her passive Lie Detector aura flared with a blinding mixture of intense fascination and a terrifyingly competitive thrill. The crimson aura surrounding her body rapidly faded into the warm afternoon air.
"You are a monster hiding in plain sight Leon," Seraphina declared with a wide predatory smile gracing her beautiful face.
"No commoner possesses the strength to catch an aura enhanced blade with their bare hands. You are far too dangerous to remain locked in the library sweeping dust."
She stepped incredibly close to him and reached out to casually trace a finger over the smooth silver embroidery on his collar.
"The Patriarch has tasked me with hunting down a rogue magical beast terrorizing the trade routes in the Whisper Woods," she whispered fiercely with a dangerous gleam in her eyes. "I require a durable personal attendant to carry my supplies and watch my back. Go pack a bag Leon. We leave the estate in exactly one hour."
Leon stared into the eyes of the Silver Goddess and realized the pervert system had just successfully escalated his dangerous game far beyond the safety of the estate walls.
He was heading into the treacherous wilderness alone with the most lethal woman he had ever met.
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