Blood corrosion!

Swoosh!

The sound of piercing wind resounded as Louisa saw a silver blade coming towards her chest. On pure instinct she reflexively moved her hand to block the blade with her spear!

Clang!

A metallic sound reverberated as their weapons clashed! Louisa grimaced under the pressure of Ellard's blade. However, before she could rejoice at the incredible achievement that she had successfully blocked his attack.

Louisa's saw the bottom of a leg coming towards her at frightening speed, Ellard's feet moved like lightning as his leg connected against Louisa's chest, sending her body flying backwards!

Whoosh!

She rolled helplessly across the grassy plain for roughly five feet before she slowly got back up to her feet. Ellard could have used the opening of when she was getting back up and pierce her heart. However, instead he merely changed his stance with his sword, allowing it to rest on his right shoulder as he observed her calmly with indifference.

"... I see. So, this is your plan, putting me against those precious to me to shake my mentality." Louisa's voice was soft and melodious. However, despite the calmness of her sapphire eyes it was clear from her cold tone that she was extremely angry.

Louisa knew better than anyone how dangerous Ellard and his "Blood reaper sword" was. Even though she was angry, Louisa couldn't afford to let her guard down. While taking small deep breaths, she discarded her emotions and an expression of serenity appeared on her face.

Fortunately, the blade of Ellard's sword was still silver, so he hadn't awakened the spirit of his sword yet. 'I need to end this before he releases that thing.' She thought as she took a stance with her golden spear.

"That's right... this is your last challenge. Defeat the person before you, if you kill him then you pass." Owen's voice sounded. "You!" Louisa uttered coldly. However, before she could continue, Ellard closed in on her from the front.

He swung his sword horizontally. However, Louisa responded by swinging her spear diagonally sideways to intercept his blade. Both weapons clash against the other! However, Louisa didn't let up on her attack.

Her golden spear released a golden glow as she thrust her spear. "?!" Ellard promptly moved away from the golden beam of light. He moved in different and irregular pattern to evade the light beams. 

"Shower me in your divine radiance, bring harm to my enemies and those who oppose me! Holy luster!" Three magic formations appeared before Louisa as they glowed with intense luminosity as bright energy was released from the center of the formations.

"... I see. Holy magic." Ellard mused as he observed the three beams of light closing in on him from the front and before he got into a stance with his sword. "Blood slash!" Ellard bellowed as he swung forwards, a slash of blood was released from the blade of his sword!

BOOOOM!

A tremendous explosion took place once the attacks from both sides collided. A fierce gale swept through the lands and rustling the grass and shaking some of the trees in the nearby surroundings. However, "!?" Ellard's blood slash had stop two of the light beams but. Unfortunately, it had failed to stop the third one!

A charming smile appeared on Louisa's face as this was what she was hoping for!

She had purposely put more magical energy into the third formation, hoping that the first two would at least weaken his counterattacks while the third land a finishing blow! By the time Ellard had notice the light beam it was too late to make any evasive maneuvers or actions! With that discernment Ellard placed both his arms in a cross shape as his body was blown away by the light beam.

Whoosh!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The light traveled in a straight line as Ellard's body was blown away deep into the forest, disappearing completely along with the light beam. Meanwhile, Louisa tried getting her heavy breathing under control as she observed the soil burnt by her attack! Most of the trees in the distant was completely mowed down.

"Is it over, did I finish him?" She couldn't help but wonder. She knew this Ellard was just an illusion but if he has all the abilities of the real Ellard Louisa wasn't confident in her victory. "I need to end this quickly; I'll leave that lich to Eathen." She muttered.

....

Meanwhile, inside the forest leaning against a tree. Owen could be seen there, blood slid down his lips as he felt his soul degrading fast. "Looks like I only have a few minutes left." He muttered to himself.

Soon, his gaze turned to an eastern direction.

BOOOOOOM!

A blast of light shot passed him and landed against a rather large tree. Seeing this Owen couldn't help but smile bitterly, "That woman is scary, honestly I really don't want to experience any of her tortures."

"But... to make things more interesting I'll send you the last of my energy." Owen said as he transferred his energy towards Ellard. Soon, his eyes opened as his body exuded a dangerous pressure.

"Now go play, keep her busy until I die." Owen said, though he felt strange saying that since he was already dead, but his soul will eventually disappear forever.

....

Meanwhile, Louisa's body trembled as she felt a dangerous pressure locked onto her body, preventing her from moving. Subtly, the sound of footsteps became audible as a person's silhouette became discernable from the forest. "Tch, that attack didn't finish him." Louisa gritted her teeth in frustration.

As the approaching figure of Ellard closed the distance. His long waist length black hair was messy, and his clothes had torn up in some places. However, aside from that he was completely fine. Louisa tightened the grip on her spear as her legs moved.

She moved swiftly thrusting her spearhead towards Ellard to land a deciding blow! However, Ellard calmly warded off her attacks using the flat side of his blade. Their movements had truly transcended beyond the realms of mortal as their silhouette's kept moving around at speeds beyond what the human eyes could perceive or discern.

All that was visible were sparks that would erupt each time their weapons clash and the occasional sound of metal! Ellard moved swiftly as he closed the gap between them and stabbed with his sword. However...

"Vortex!" Louisa's pink lips moved as she chanted her spell. Soon, a strong gale of fierce wind surrounded her figure. But Ellard continued on his path as he closed in on the vortex without faltering. 

Seeing this Louisa narrowed her eyes. 'Something is wrong.' She thought, even someone like Ellard would hesitate and become cautious when seeing this spell. But the Ellard before her continued on his path without the slightest intention of stopping. "Is it a trap. or could it be he is just stupid?" She wondered.

However, Louisa waved her hand, following the motion of her hand several blades of wind came flying in Ellard's direction. However, his cold eyes stayed the same as he veered to the left evading the wind blades by a mere inch. 

"Useless." Louisa sneered coldly. Ellard glanced back behind him seeing the blades he had dodge coming back at him.

"In respect to my former master and commander I'll put you down quickly, wind spears!" Louisa chanted. Several spears made from compressed wind shot outwards towards Ellard. He was trap in a pincer attack! From his front several wind spears were coming towards him, while from behind several wind blades were closing in on him. Finally, his indifferent expression changed for the first time!

However, Ellard's mouth moved as he bellowed, "Blood shield!" Once those words left his mouth droplets of blood surrounded Ellard from behind, creating a wall made from solid blood.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

The wind blade made contact with the blood wall as a loud bang echoed out. Multiple silver flashes of lights were created as Ellard swung his sword multiple times creating afterimages of his blade. Ellard closed in on Louisa and thrust his sword. Ellard's long black hair fluttered in the wind as he skillfully moved his body as though he was doing a dance.

With a small stomp of his feet, he quickly closed the gap between them and thrust the blade of his sword Louisa shifted her body to the side evading his attack as she jumped back. Louisa looked at her right arm and saw that her smooth milky white skin was slightly grazed by the tip of his blade, as a thin long drop of blood slid down her arm.

Seeing this Louisa's beautiful face instantly turned deathly pale as though all the blood had been drained from her face! It wasn't that she was scared because she was injured, but the ability of Ellard's sword, the ability she had seen many times being used against their enemies.

Soon, a smile appeared on Ellard's face as he observed the drop of blood on the blade of his sword. The drop of blood strangely disappeared inside the blade of his sword as though it was being absorbed! 

The blade of his sword then took on a bright crimson shade as though it was bathe in blood for many years. "Shit! I need to kill him now!" Louisa instantly closed in on Ellard with her spear braced tightly in her hand. "Blood corrosion." Ellard muttered.

As soon as those words were uttered the entire atmosphere change, a strange silence fell over the surroundings, until... "Ugh, cough! Cough! Cough!" Louisa held her throat and cough up a mouthful of blood. The blood that spew from her mouth was pitch black!

Louisa couldn't even open up her mouth to speak as she felt pain... no she felt intense pain assaulting her body from the insides. One of "Blood reapers" Special ability was blood manipulation. 

It had the power to completely manipulate all kinds of blood regardless of the type. In addition, it could also corrode the blood as long as it absorbed the blood needed!

Louisa continued to cough out black blood as she heard the sound of the grass being trampled, as Ellard was slowly approaching her. "... I personally do not like tormenting the weak... so I will end your suffering now." Ellard said, indifferently. As he raised his sword upwards. 

"Cough! You! You are looking down on me!" Louisa felt anger bubbling up inside her.

"No... I am not. You have truly gotten stronger, Louisa." Ellard said, for the first time a genuine smile appeared on his face. Louisa coughed as she widened her eyes. 'Is this really just an illusion?' She felt something was off. However, she wasn't willing to die here, just like that! "Tch, cough! Flame dragon!" She muttered.

As soon as she said that a magic formation appeared as red-hot flames shot outwards like an unstoppable torrent of raging waves!

ROOOOOAR!

Ellard was about to swing his sword downwards when he heard the sound of a bestial cry that made him shiver! Instinctively, Ellard leapt back skillfully evading the dragon's hot breath that had targeted him. Once he had escape danger Ellard looked up towards the vast skies above his head and saw a large reptilian creature flying in the sky. What reflected in his red eyes was a large western dragon.