Chapter 91
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Carissa frowned upon hearing those words. She didn’t care about rumors, but deliberately creating division and unfairness within the army, as well as disrupting morale before a decisive battle, was a grave mistake.
Aurora had been on battlefields and should have known this. She was likely trying to use public opinion to pressure Rafael into sidelining Carissa to stabilize the army’s morale.
“It’s only spreading among the reinforcements, right?” Carissa asked.
Violet was still seething with anger, her face growing increasingly red. She replied, “Yes, the reinforcements are camped separately from the Hell Monarch Army–the soldiers who were on the Southern Frontier since the start with the marshal. So, they don’t know about the rumors. If they did, some of them would surely confront the reinforcement troops.”
Carissa’s frown deepened. After the numerous battles they fought together, many soldiers now respected her. If they found out she was being slandered like this, it wouldn’t just be arguments–fights could break out.
That would completely shatter morale and cohesion. With the situation like this, how could they come together to fight the enemy? They might as well hand over the Southern Frontier to Sandoria.
“They’ve already started inciting and are trying to get some of the generals among the reinforcements to see the marshal,” Bun added.
Carissa thought for a moment and said, “Let them go for now. I believe the marshal can handle them. With the possibility of war with Westhaven and Sandoria looming, the marshal won’t tolerate any disruption of morale at this critical time.”
“Are we just going to ignore this?” Violet’s face was full of frustration. “Can’t I at least go give Aurora a good thrashing to vent my anger?”
Violet couldn’t tolerate even the slightest injustice. Given her noble status, the thought of being labeled as Carissa’s maid was infuriating.
Carissa kept her gaze steady as she said, “If you want to, you can. But remember, she’s a higher–ranking officer. Assaulting a general will earn you a severe punishment. If you don’t want to be in that situation, I’d advise against it.”
Violet snorted. “If I weren’t in the military and holding the position of battalion commander, I’d beat her up without hesitation. I’m telling you, once we’ve recaptured the Southern Frontier, I’m done with the military. Even if they offer me the position of general, I won’t care.”
All these restrictions were driving her crazy.
That evening, it was indeed reported that Aurora’s cousin, Zeke Yates, had led a group to stir up trouble in front of Rafael.
In a fit of rage, Rafael had the ringleaders dragged away and given thirty lashes each.
He also issued a military order–anyone dissatisfied with Carissa could challenge her, If they could exchange ten blows with her and survive, their previous disturbances would be forgiven. If they chose not to challenge her, they were expected to focus on training and drills, or, face military disciplinary action.
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With this order issued, some soldiers in the Mystic Army who were discontented but had previously kept silent began to make their voices heard.
One of them was Michael Brown, a lieutenant in the Mystic Army with notable martial prowess. When Carissa took the troops out for field drills and tactical training once more, he stepped forward. “General Sinclair, the marshal has stated that anyone dissatisfied with his arrangement can challenge you. If the challenger can exchange ten blows with you and survive, they will be absolved of any guilt. However, I do not seek pardon. If you defeat me, I will no longer speak a word against you, regardless of how you achieve your victory, General Sinclair!” Michael declared.
Michael was known for his arrogance and self–assuredness. He had practiced martial arts since the age of seven and joined the army at fifteen. He was now thirty, and had never slacked in his training.
To him, the marshal’s words were a grave insult.
Ten blows? It was laughable!
Even if her father was Hector Sinclair, it didn’t mean Carissa had the skills to match. She shouldn’t be leading the Mystic Army; it was the greatest disgrace to them!
After Michael made his declaration, the remaining Mystic Army soldiers erupted in applause and loudly shouted, “Lieutenant Brown, we support you!”
Holding her Rose Spear, Carissa watched the man in his thirties. He had a dark complexion and stood with an air of pride and aloofness, clearly expecting to be taken seriously.
Seeing her remain silent, Michael sneered, “Are you afraid to face me, General Sinclair?”
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Carissa planted the Rose Spear firmly into the ground and tied up her hair. The biting northern wind whipped her garments around, making a fierce sound.
She lifted her chin slightly, her gaze as cold as the snow. “It’s fine as long as I win?”
“That’s right!” Michael called out loudly. “If you defeat me, I swear to follow you to the death and never go back on my word.”
“Good luck, Lieutenant Brown!”
“Defeat her! She’s using the military achievements of her father and brothers to rise above us!”
“How can she, a mere woman, command the Mystic Army with false merits? Lieutenant Brown, we’re all unhappy with this arrangement. Show her who’s better!”
Michael’s voice was cold as he said, “General Sinclair, did you hear that?”
Carissa glanced at the roaring Mystic Army before gripping the Rose Spear once more. “Alright, let’s get started!”
Michael’s eyes were filled with disdain. “Don’t accuse me of bullying a woman, General Sinclair. I’ll let you make the first move!”
“Thank you!” Carissa smiled, her lips curling and the beauty mark under her eye standing out strikingly.
In the distance, Barrett, Aurora, and several soldiers watched from the city walls, observing the commotion.
Aurora’s gaze was indifferent. “It seems someone is challenging Carissa.”
Though they were some distance away, Barrett could clearly see Michael stepping forward to challenge. Carissa. He furrowed his brows, knowing that Michael would be no match for her.
“Michael is considered one of the strongest in the Mystic Army. I wonder how many blows Carissa can endure against him,” Aurora remarked with interest.
Barrett shook his head slowly. “Michael can’t win.”
Aurora laughed heartily. “Barrett, you seem quite protective of Carissa. Let’s just watch.”
She squinted her eyes, wishing fervently that Michael would force Carissa to her knees and have her begging for mercy. People like Carissa would only further tarnish the reputation of all women.a
In the open field, Carissa raised the Rose Spear and thrust it directly at Michael’s right arm. He laughed maniacally, seeing her move as a ridiculous display.
How did such a delicate woman even make her way to the battlefield to embarrass herself? It was utterly laughable!
Michael wasn’t the only one laughing—the remaining Mystic Army soldiers also erupted into laughter. Carissa looked like she couldn’t even hold her spear properly! She was soft and gentle. She didn’t have any strength at all!
Just as Michael reached out to grab the spear’s head, he felt a buzzing vibration coming from the Rose
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Spear. He immediately realized it was infused with inner force. If he were to grab the spear, and if her inner force was substantial, his arm could be shattered by the shock!
He instinctively pulled back, but it was too late to evade. The spearhead pierced his left shoulder, going straight through his iron armor, causing a wound on his shoulder blade and drawing blood.
Michael was horrified. What seemed like a soft and weak attack was actually a concealed, powerful
strike!
“Thank you for your kindness!” said Carissa as she withdrew the Rose Spear and held it firmly upright.
The ground within a two–yard radius of the spearhead had cracked, creating several fissures that stretched straight to Michael’s feet and beyond before ending abruptly. There were five cracks on the ground in total, winding and jagged like long centipedes. At close range, the cracks were clearly visible. The Mystic Army soldiers who were standing behind Michael in formation could all see the fissures on the ground created by the spear’s impact. The soldiers in front could even see the blood dripping from Michael’s shoulder!
Michael’s face turned ashen.
Why bother continuing the fight? He had lost.
With such powerful inner force, even if he used all his strength, it was impossible to last ten blows against her. Defeating her was absolutely out of the question.
The scene was deathly silent. Only the cold northern wind howled.
Michael knelt on one knee, holding his sword and raising it up to Carissa. His voice trembled from shock as he said, “I, Michael Brown, am willing to obey your orders, General Sinclair!”
From the distant city walls, Aurora laughed heartily. “Is that it? That was pathetic. The marshal must have arranged for Michael to do that, right?
“He just stood there and let her stab him once, and that’s considered a victory for her? Winning with just one move? She’s truly invincible, isn’t she?”
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The city walls were far from the open field, making it Impossible for Aurora and the others to sense the inner force Carissa had displayed or see the cracks in the ground. What they saw was simply Michael standing still and being injured by Carissa’s spear.
To Aurora, that was utterly laughable. It seemed that Rafael was indeed going to great lengths to elevate Carissal
Aurora’s laughter faded, replaced by anger. “The Mystic Army is entirely at the marshal’s command. They obey whoever he orders them to. But why put on such a farce? Do they think they can toy with the soldiers like this?”
Barrett was also puzzled.
Rafael’s orchestration of such a setup seemed unnecessary. Carissa’s skills were undeniably impressive, and even if Michael fought with all his might, he was, no match for her.
Could it be that Carissa only knew a few moves? Did she have no other abilities?
Regardless, today’s so–called challenge was nothing but a joke.
Barrett felt a pang of anger as well. Fabricating achievements and stacking merits for nobility was not uncommon on the battlefield, but directly handing the Mystic Army over to Carissa and making such a mockery of it seemed to undermine the soldiers‘ morale.
“I’ll challenge her,” Aurora declared, unable to contain her frustration.
Barrett grabbed her arm. “Don’t. She’s only commanding the Mystic Army, not other troops. If you defeat her, it would embarrass both the marshal and the Mystic Army. With the imminent war, we mustn’t stir internal strife and destabilize the troops.
“So what? The instability of the army isn’t my fault. It’s caused by the Hell Monarch’s favoritism of Carissa!
Aurora retorted angrily.
Barrett lowered his voice, “Do you want to jeopardize your chances of gaining military achievements? The Hell Monarch is the marshal of this war, and he will report the final outcome of the battle to the court. Have you considered the consequences of offending him? We might end up with no achievements and a reputation for disrupting the army.”
Now reminded of the stakes, Aurora realized that Rafael had the ultimate authority at the Southern Frontier battlefield. Besides that, many generals here were Hector’s former subordinates, which was disadvantageous for her and Barrett.
She kicked the city wall in frustration. “It’s only because of her background that Carissa gets away with this. Such deceitful people are intolerable. If she doesn’t fight when the war begins, I’ll force her to.”
Barrett observed his wife’s flushed face and said, “Since the marshal wants to enhance the glory of the Duke of Northwatch’s family, Carissa will have to fight, But she will likely be well protected.”
Aurora’s eyes glinted with cold determination. “One person can’t dominate an entire battlefield. The cruelty of battle is something we experienced when we first arrived at Victory Pass. This battle will be far more dangerous.”
“Indeed, the battlefields of Victory Pass and the Southern Frontier are incomparable,” Barrett agreed,
recalling the Victory Pass battle where he nearly lost his life. If not for Wyatt shielding him, he would have
died.
Looking at the Mystic Army in the field, Aurora coldly commented, “On the battlefield, life and death are uncertain. If these fifteen thousand Mystic Army soldiers only protect Carissa and accumulate merits for her, I will definitely report it to the court upon our return to the capital. I’ll expose how she tarnished the late General Sinclair’s reputation.”
Barrett felt conflicted.
On one hand, he hoped Aurora would refrain from causing trouble. Rafael’s actions were meant to uphold the Duke of Northwatch’s family’s name, which was understandable given Hector’s status as a model warrior and national hero. The preservation of his family would stabilize the army’s morale.
On the other hand, as a warrior himself, Barrett found the situation deeply unfair. On the battlefield, everyone risked their lives to earn military merits, while Carissa seemed to rise effortlessly under Rafael and the other generals‘ protection.
He realized that both he and Aurora were facing a tough and somewhat tragic situation. Any lingering guilt towards Carissa vanished, replaced by disdain.
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Chapter 94
Carissa returned to the city after midnight, only to find Aurora waiting for her at the city gate. The distant glow of a campfire illuminated Aurora’s face, which was twisted in anger and disdain.
“Can’t you at least put in a bit more effort to save your dignity? You’ve tarnished the reputation of the Duke of Northwatch’s family beyond repair,” Aurora taunted.
Carissa looked up and icily replied, “What does my family’s reputation have to do with you?”
“Can you stop pretending to be above it all? I saw everything today. It only took a word from the marshal to put you in command of the Mystic Army. So, why the charade with Michael? Do you think that will win over the other soldiers? Do you think everyone is blind?” Aurora snapped back.
Carissa stared at her with a cold glint in her eyes. “You’re right. Not everyone is blind. Some things can be hiddert for a time, but not forever.”
Aurora’s eyes narrowed, her resolve clearly wavering. “What are you implying?”
“Nothing much.”
Carissa tried to move past her, but Aurora grabbed her arm.
Her voice dropped to a low tone as she warned, “Carissa, I don’t care what you mean, but this is a battlefield. The Mystic Army is a force of elite troops and should not be used for your personal gain. Stop causing trouble here and return to the capital immediately”
Carissa wrenched her arm free and strode away without saying anything.
Furious, Aurora shouted after her, “You just want to prove you’re better than me, but is this really your own skill? No one in the army will respect you; they’ll only see you as a joke!”
Without looking back, Carissa said over her shoulder, “If I’ve become a joke, isn’t it largely because of your rumors and disdain for the truth?”
Aurora scoffed. “Disdain for the truth? What truth? Do you think you became a general based on your own merits? Have you heard so much flattery that you actually believe you’re an invincible female general?”
Out of respect for Hector, Rafael had given Carissa command of the Mystic Army without considering the dangers of the battles to come. The Mystic Army was supposed to be a vanguard force, not a personal guard or a means to rack up enemy kills.
This couldn’t go on–if Carissa continued in this way, defeat in the Southern Frontier battle would be inevitable.
The next morning, Aurora went to the command tent to request an audience with Rafael.
Rafael had risen at the crack of dawn and was already in discussion with the other generals about the plan to breach the city.
The battle couldn’t drag on too long. The enemy had retreated to Simonton City, where they had supplies. However, it was limited. They needed time to resupply and for their wounded to recover
Thus, the enemy wouldn’t be opening the gates. Starhaven’s forces couldn’t launch a direct assault and would instead have to breach the city walls.
When Aurora requested an audience, Rafael raised his hand. “Let her in.”
Dylan stepped out to inform Aurora, “The marshal asks you to enter, General Yates,”
She entered briskly and noticed the ten or so generals present, realizing they were deliberating war
strategy.
Feeling slighted, she bowed formally, and before Rafael could speak, asked, “Marshal, since you’ve gathered the generals to discuss military affairs, why weren’t my husband and I summoned to discuss it together?”
Sitting on his chair, Rafael’s sharp eyes were fixed on her. “Didn’t I already say? You’ve traveled a long way to provide support, and many of you are injured. Rest for two days before resuming training. You don’t need to be involved in strategy discussions at the moment.”
Aurora hesitated.
Had he said such a thing? Even if he had, she felt it was unjust.
“Marshal, we came here on orders as reinforcements. Although the journey was difficult, a night’s rest was enough to recover. We can begin training today. I simply have one matter I’m unclear about and came to seek your guidance.”
“Speak,” Rafael said, leaning back in his chair with one hand resting on the armrest, watching her with a slight tilt of his head.
“The Mystic Army, being elite troops, should rightfully serve as the vanguard in breaking through the enemy’s lines. Yet, you have assigned them to be under General Sinclair’s command.”
“What about it?” Rafael’s tone was calm but carried an authoritative edge.
Aurora raised her voice, “I believe your decision to use the most elite troops to protect a woman who only seeks to gain military merit on the battlefield is unwise, Marshal.”
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Chapter 95
When Timothy heard Aurora’s words, he immediately interjected before Rafael could speak, “What do you mean by that? The Mystic Army troops will fight the enemy under General Sinclair’s command. And you’re right, they are indeed the vanguard force, meant to breach the city and lead the charge.”
Aurora sneered. “The marshal really holds onto old sentiments, huh? If the Mystic Army breaches the city. it’ll be due to Carissa’s efforts. What’s the difference between that and directly awarding her military merit?”
Timothy’s anger flared. “How can you speak like that? If she leads the Mystic Army to breach the city, the merit is hers by her own effort, not something given to her. Do you believe that in warfare, only one person should charge into battle while the soldiers stay behind, General Yates?”
“General Farell, are you suggesting that General Sinclair will also be on the battlefield, and not just hiding in the rear with her command authority?” Aurora countered.
Timothy was incensed. “That’s absurd! As the vanguard force, a general must lead the troops. There’s no such thing as a general hiding in the rear while holding command.”
“Her? Lead the troops?” Aurora laughed coldly, as if she had heard the greatest joke.
After a few moments of mocking laughter, she added, “A woman who’s never been on a battlefield is going to lead the Mystic Army to attack the city? I’d say it’s the generals here who will be leading her and the Mystic Army in the assault.”
“How can you say she’s never been on a battlefield? Didn’t she fight in those previous battles?” Timothy retorted.
Aurora sneered and sarcastically said, “I’m sure everyone here knows exactly how she won all those. previous battles.”
Looking directly at Rafael, she dropped to one knee. 1, Aurora Yates, request to lead the Mystic Army in the siege. Marshal, if you insist on having Carissa in command, then I ask to fight her.
“I brought the Mystic Army to the Southern Frontier. I can’t stand by and watch them risk their lives in vain by following a commander who knows nothing of warfare.”
The assembled generals could barely contain their outrage. Though they wanted to hold their tongues out of respect for Rafael, they couldn’t help but voice their disapproval.
“General Yates, how can you speak like that? If General Sinclair didn’t have the ability, would the Mystic Army follow her orders?”
“You even talk about lives being needlessly sacrificed before the battle has begun. That’s truly absurd!”
“If you claim she knows nothing of warfare, then how did she win previous battles?”
“Besides, the marshat has already issued orders for General Sinclair to command the Mystic Army. She has been training them since yesterday.”
“General Yates, you’re being far too arrogant. You compare yourself to General Sinclair, but you might not even measure up.”
Ignoring the generals‘ scornful remarks, Aurora continued to address Rafael directly, “Didn’t you say anyone who is unhappy about the arrangement can challenge her, Marshal? I request to challenge
y that
Carissa. If she loses, the Mystic Army will fall under my command.”
Aware of Rafael’s strictness, the generals found Aurora’s direct challenge to his orders incredibly audacious. They expected him to be furious. But to their surprise, Rafael simply nodded lightly
“I permit you to challenge Carissa, If she loses, the Mystic Army will be under your command. However, if you lose, you will receive fifty lashes with a military rod for violating my orders and for your disrespectful words.
your
“Additionally, all the military merits you earn at the Southern Frontier will be stripped from you, and y name will not be mentioned if our forces win.”
Aurora was momentarily stunned, then immediately protested, “That is unfair. If I lose, I face fifty lashes and lose all my military merits, but she faces no punishment if she loses. You’re showing clear favoritism, Marshal.”
Rafael’s gaze was icy. “If she loses, she will have lost the Mystic Army. How is that not a punishment? Furthermore, her command of the Mystic Army was by my order. If she is replaced in the midst of battle, her reputation will suffer, and her authority will be diminished in the eyes of both the generals and soldiers. How can that not be considered a punishment?”
“But you yourself said that anyone who is unhappy with the situation can challenge her, Marshal,” said Aurora, growing agitated.
Rafael’s eyes narrowed slightly. “That’s right. The penalty for losing a challenge is thirty lashes. But your challenge isn’t just about questioning her, it’s about taking the Mystic Army from her.
“You’re challenging her for personal gain. If you fail, you naturally have to face consequences. Otherwise, everyone would question my authority. So, will you carry out this challenge you wanted or not?”
Considering Carissa’s slender frame, Aurora believed the other woman would be no match for her. So, she gritted her teeth and agreed.
“Very well. I will challenge her tomorrow.”
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Timothy opposed vehemently.
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*This is a decision that has already been made! There is no need for further challenges. This is not a martial arts arena, it’s a battlefield. Such actions are detrimental to the unity of the army.”
Upon hearing this, Aurora sensed that he was trying to prevent Carissa from losing. This assumption only served to bolster her confidence.
“Those who are capable should step up. What’s wrong with a challenge? Are you afraid she’ll lose? If you think her reputation will take a blow, then we don’t need to fight. Just give the command of the Mystic Army to me,” she said smugly.
Timothy snorted. “What wishful thinking! Just because you led the reinforcements to the battlefield, you think they’re all yours? I’m trying to save your dignity by preventing this challenge. Since you don’t appreciate my goodwill, do as you please!”
“No ne
need for more empty words. The Mystic Army won’t be under General Sinclair’s command unless she defeats me,” Aurora said.
With that, she stood up and bowed.
“I’ll take my leave.”
After she left, a confused Timothy turned to Rafael.
“Marshal, the command of the Mystic Army has already been given to General Sinclair. Why allow General Yates’s request? Although the troublemakers in the reinforcements are gone, there are still whispers that General Sinclair is unworthy. If General Sinclair loses…”
Rafael cast a cool glance at him. “General Sinclair will not lose. Since there are still those dissatisfied with her among the reinforcement troops, let them see for themselves whether she is truly unworthy, or if General Yates is just a name without substance.”
“Furthermore…” Rafael stood up, his imposing aura filling the room, his eyes deep as ink. “If one seeks her own disgrace and insists on foolishness, let her have it. Do not stop her.”
Though Rafael spoke with such confidence, everyone still felt uneasy. They had witnessed Carissa’s bravery, but Aurora was a general praised by the empress dowager herself. Having achieved great merit. at Victory Pass, her martial skills should be formidable.
It would be acceptable if they ended in a draw, but if Carissa were to be defeated, all the prestige she had built up recently would be lost.
Later in the afternoon, Rafael issued an order: Aurora would challenge Carissa for the position of deputy commander of the Mystic Army.
This decision was announced to the entire army. Anyone who could find a spot was allowed to watch the duel in the open field.
The consequences of the duel were made clear in advance.
When Barrett heard how high Aurora was betting, he immediately opposed her. “Carissa is highly skilled in martial arts. Even with just a few moves, she could defeat you. I’ve witnessed her abilities personally. Autora, you mustn’t be impulsive!”
Aurora, already fully dressed, was full of determination.
“Barrett, I’m not being impulsive. I’m fighting for more than just the leadership of the Mystic Army on the battlefield,” she said firmly. “If I can command fifteen thousand armored soldiers, I’ll be their deputy commander once we return to the capital. Think about it! After our merits at Victory Pass, neither the king nor the Ministry of Defense assigned us any positions. After the Southern Frontier battle, there will be no wars for years. Without official positions, how can we succeed?”
She wasn’t just vying for a battlefield command, but also for future leadership of the Mystic Army. With fifteen thousand soldiers under her command, she could walk confidently in the capital!
However, Barrett thought she was being naive. If there were no wars, Rafael would also return to the capital. At that point, all the Mystic Army would be under his command, not hers.
Worried, he said, “We’re relying on this battle to gain merit. If you’re defeated, you’ll lose your achievements and face military punishment. Once you’re flogged in the army, you’ll lose all respect as a general. How will you lead in the future?”
In other words, her career would be ruined.
“Lose to her? Barrett, you’re underestimating me.” Aurora’s expression was calm. “It’s not just Carissa. I don’t even see General Farell and the others as threats! Aside from the marshal and you, I won’t lose to anyone in a solo fight–especially not to Carissa. We both saw clearly how she fought Michael in the open field.”
Barrett grabbed her arm, and looked her in the eyes. “What if, just what if, you lose? If you lose, you’ll have nothing. Would you be content staying at home as a housewife?”
“What’s wrong with washing my hands to cook for you? Aurora teased.
Despite her words, she was certain she wouldn’t lose.
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Chapter 97
Aurora’s words moved Barrett deeply. Hearing such a statement from anyone else wouldn’t have touched him as much as it did coming from Aurora.
She wasn’t just an ordinary woman confined to the household; she was a formidable general on the battlefield, a hero who had forced their enemy to sign a peace treaty.
For such an extraordinary woman to say she didn’t mind washing her hands and cooking for him, it warmed Barrett’s heart. Any previous disappointment he had felt towards her vanished instantly.
The challenge was set for sunset.
Rafael sent Dylan to notify Carissa. He found her still drilling her troops in the open field, and informed her of Rafael’s order.
She simply nodded. “Got it.”
Since the entire army knew about this, Violet and the others came looking for Carissa after their training. Each gave her a pat on the shoulder and said tersely, “Beat her.”
Carissa smiled at them. Beating Aurora would indeed be challenging, not because it was a fight to the death, but because it was a measured contest requiring great restraint
The setting sun didn’t dispel the chill of the frontier. In the open field, the fifteen thousand–strong Mystic Army stood in formation on the east side.
Soldiers, having heard of the event, crowded every available space. The area was densely packed with people, their chatter filling the air.
In addition to the reinforcements, the original Hell Monarch Army soldiers who were in the Sou Frontier from the start also came to watch. The Hell Monarch Army had the utmost confidence in Carissa’s abilities.
However, the reinforcements, stirred up by Aurora, believed Carissa had risen to her rank through connections. To them, she was just a housewife who had stayed comfortably at home–a divorced woman, at that.
How could she be capable of leading on the battlefield?
Most of the reinforcement troops supported Aurora, except for the Mystic Army. The Mystic Army had already acknowledged Carissa’s leadership, especially after witnessing her single–handedly injure Michael in one move. Those who were closer during the fight could even feel the intensity of Carissa’s inner force.
They knew how strong Carissa was, but the other reinforcement troops didn’t.
The reinforcement troops only acknowledged Barrett and Aurora, who had led them to the Southern Frontier. Rumors among the reinforcement troops about Carissa had fueled their disdain for her. They believed Rafel and the other generals had elevated her standing. They hoped Aurora would shatter Carissa’s facade of invincibility, and expose her supposed charade.
Timothy was appointed to ensure fairness in the challenge, with other generals watching nearby. Rafael stood at the front of the Mystic Army, clad in his armor. The setting sun cast a glow on his dull gold armor, highlighting its dried bloodstains. His recently shaved beard had begun to grow back, and the harsh cold had chapped his skin. Although his once–handsome features were somewhat marred, his
imposing presence remained undiminished.
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Addressing the gathered soldiers and generals, Rafael explained the consequences for the loser of the challenge. Once both Aurora and Carissa accepted the terms, he fell silent.
Aurora stood with a long sword in hand, her battle outfit yet unstained by blood. She held the sword upright, her posture straight. With her thick eyebrows and confident demeanor, she exuded the aura of a true warrior.
She gazed coldly at Carissa, who stood before her with the Rose Spear. If not for the fact that Carissa’s exquisite features remained the same, Aurora would never have been able to connect her with the same lady of the Warren household in the past, who was dressed in fine clothes and behaved in a dignified
manner.
Except for her facial features, Carissa’s appearance and outfit were completely different from before. Her hair was now messy and greasy, her face roughened by sand and cold. It was a stark contrast to the formerly smooth skin that had once seemed almost flawless and soft.
Aurora had never felt an ounce of jealousy or admiration for such beauty. In the secluded inner parts of a household, women could afford to show their most stunning side.
She despised such fragile prettiness, which seemed as breakable as glass.
The wind howled, carrying Aurora’s voice to Carissa.
“Carissa,” Aurora said, “do you really think you can surpass me, just because you’re on the battlefield? Calling you stupid might be inaccurate, because you’re not. You’re actually cunning to the extreme. You used your father’s connections to push yourself to a position you could have never reached on your own!!
Chapter 98
Aurora’s voice was loud enough for all the generals and the Mystic Army to hear.
Aurora prided herself on being straightforward, and spoke without reservation. However, her words only deepened the disdain of those who already looked down on Carissa. The murmurs of discontent turned into a torrent of insults, overwhelming Carissa.
Violet and the others were livid, their faces turning ashen with anger. If not for the military rules, they would have rushed forward to teach Aurora a lesson right then and there. Their anger grew even more when they saw Carissa’s calm demeanor.
Despite Aurora’s blatant provocation, Carissa showed no signs of anger. She simply watched Aurora in silence, like a mute. She didn’t respond, and her expression remained unchanged. Only her eyes grew darker.
“Carissa!” Rafael took a wooden staff from Dylan, and tossed it to her. “Don’t use the Rose Spear. Use this.
Carissa caught the staff with one hand and tossed the Rose Spear back to Rafael, giving him meaningful look. “Understood, sir,”
She knew what he meant. Blades and spears were dangerous. If she couldn’t control her rage, the Rose Spear might end up taking off Aurora’s head.
Aurora felt humiliated, and sneered, “Using a staff? Fine! Since you are so confident, don’t blame me for not holding back.”
One with any sense of honor might have discarded their sword in favor of a staff upon seeing Carissa do so, but Aurora couldn’t afford to take any chances. The stakes were too high for her to risk failure.
This difference underscored the inherent unfairness between them, one based on their status and family. background. Given the existing inequity, using a sword against a wooden staff was not an issue for Aurora.
The lonely desert smoke and the setting sun created a stark backdrop. Bonfires were lit, their flames. casting a glow on the battlefield and making it easy to see the two figures standing in the center.
Many expected a high–quality duel, filled with rapid exchanges and dazzling moves.
Many were eager to see Aurora thoroughly defeat Carissa. They hoped to see Carissa kneeling and begging for mercy, while offering Aurora the command over the Mystic Army.
Barrett appeared tense as he recalled the two moves Carissa had shown him before leaving the manor and the feints she had used against Michael. He knew Aurora couldn’t afford to lose; if she did, all her efforts on the Southern Frontier would be for naught. Worse, she would face fifty lashes.
With that thought, he shouted to Aurora, “Stay calm and fight smart!”
Violet, overhearing him, picked up a small stone and hurled it at him. Hearing the whistling wind, he blocked it with his sword, sending the stone flying. He looked towards Violet, who glared at him with eyes full of contempt. Although annoyed, he chose to ignore her.
As Timothy shouted for the match to begin, all eyes focused on the two combatants.
Many soldiers started cheering.
“General Yates! Beat her to the ground! Don’t hold back
“General Yates, show your might!”
Aurora leaped into the air, gripping her sword with both hands and swinging it down towards Carissa. Her combat skills were entirely practical, this strike had no finesse, only sheer and overwhelming power,
As she descended rapidly, it seemed unavoidable that Carissa would be struck, whether she dodged to the left, right, front, or back. The speed was incredible–no fast that the watching soldiers felt they couldn’t evade such a blow
However, Carissa didn’t dodge. She held the wooden staff horizontally, and blocked the sword before her
The sharp sword, descending with immense speed and force, should have split the wooden staff. However, at that instant, the staff seemed to be made of iron and showed no signs of damage. Instead, a loud ching resonated through the air.
The blow sent a painful shock through Aurora’s wrists and hands, nearly causing her to lose her grip on the sword.
Chapter 99
Aurora’s heart raced; she glanced at Carissa’s dark eyes, then at the unmarked wooden staff in her hands. She was astonished.
Could this be no ordinary wooden staff?
Of course! Rafael would go out of his way to protect Carissa. How could he give her an ordinary wooden stick?
With that thought in mind, Aurora sneered. “This staff must be more than just a wooden stick, right? It seems the marshal picked the sturdiest weapon for you.”
The wooden staff was as long as the Rose Spear. It was actually just a wooden post meant for building camp structures.
If Aurora had paid close attention, she would have realized it was an ordinary stick. Convinced of Rafael’s favoritism towards Carissa, however, she refused to believe he would give her anything ordinary in this challenge.
Many soldiers were unable to see clearly from a distance. They, too, believed Aurora’s accusation, thinking Carissa’s staff was a superior weapon. Immediately, cries of unfairness erupted.
“How can an ordinary wooden staff compete with a superior weapon?”
“If that’s the case, let her use the spear. This is a sham!”
“Yeah, it’s not fair!”
The overwhelming outcry surged again. At this, Carissa simply chopped the staff in half with a swift strike. She deliberately left the cut uneven to show it was merely wood.
She then kicked the broken piece towards the soldiers, where one picked it up and confirmed it was indeed just a wooden stick.
Aurora’s face paled; she hadn’t expected it to truly be just a wooden staff. Gritting her teeth, she swung her sword at Carissa once more. Her movements were still swift and powerful.
Carissa blocked with the remaining part of the wooden staff. As Aurora pulled back her sword for another strike, Carissa pushed the head of the staff with one hand, sending it flying to hit Aurora in her stomach.
The wooden staff fell to the ground. With a swift motion, Carissa summoned it back to her hand from a
distance.
“Wow!” gasped the crowd, astonished by the feat.
What kind of martial art was this?
“This must be witchcraft!”
“How can she retrieve the staff from the ground like that? It must be witchcraft!”
“It’s called inner force manipulation. Do you even understand? Only a warrior with superior inner force can achieve it,” Violet explained coldly.
Aurora staggered back several steps, feeling the impact disturb her core energy. The bitter taste of blood rose in her throat, but she swallowed it down. Though she struggled to maintain composure, her mind
was in complete chaos.
+15 BONUS
She had inner force too, but it was shallow. She had never believed in its utility. Since childhood, she had trained for practical combat, where strength was everything.
Carissa twirled the staff gracefully, a confident smile on her lips. “General Yates, do you wish to continue or concede?”
The word “concede” was a provocation to Aurora.
“A warrior never concedes!” she roared, furious.
She charged forward, swinging her sword again. Her strikes were powerful yet straightforward. Such strikes were meant to effectively kill enemies on a battlefield.
Carissa deftly dodged a few attacks, noting the increasing fury in Aurora’s eyes. She leaped into the air, and struck Aurora’s wrist with the staff. She disarmed Aurora and simultaneously kicked the latter in the chest, sending her flying backward.
Carissa landed gracefully, three yards away from the fallen and bleeding Aurora. She spun the staff rapidly, creating a vortex–like illusion, which quickly transformed into a flurry of neatly cut wood chips. The chips burst towards Aurora like a snowstorm.
Though Aurora wore battle armor, the wooden fragments left scratch marks across it. One sliver grazed her neck, drawing blood. The wound was shallow and barely bleeding, but everyone knew that a deeper cut would have killed Aurora,
How did Carissa control the chips so accurately?
The crowd erupte
hour.
in shock. They had expected a prolonged, evenly matched fight lasting at least half any
Instead, it ended abruptly and decisively.
In fact, Aurora hadn’t even touched Carissa’s clothes. She lost in a manner that was nothing short of humiliating!
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Chapter 100
Aurora spat out a mouthful of blood. Carissa’s kick seemed to have nearly dislocated her internal organs. It left her in such agony, she couldn’t make a sound for a long time.
Her face was ashen as she instinctively touched her neck, feeling the blood on her fingers. Her entire body trembled uncontrollably–not from fear, but from the sheer inability to accept this outcome.
She looked at Carissa in disbelief. Such martial skills were beyond anything she had ever seen. How did Carissa, of all people, possess such formidable abilities?
Aurora recalled how Barrett had once mentioned that Carissa had hurt him by simply flicking leaves, a statement that had seemed laughable then. Now, after experiencing it firsthand, a surge of jealousy and hatred gnawed at her.
This swift defeat was a brutal slap in her face.
Earlier, she had accused Carissa of relying on connections to rise in rank, causing several officers to be punished. Even before the fight, she had loudly berated Carissa, inciting a furor among the troops.
Now, Carissa had used her prowess to refute those claims. Throughout the entire confrontation, Carissa spoke only one sentence without offering any defense.
Barrett hurriedly came to support her, asking anxiously, “Are you hurt? Is it serious?”
Grasping Barrett’s wrist, Aurora slowly stood up, her chest still aching terribly. Despite trying to hold back, she couldn’t suppress the tears welling in her eyes.
An overwhelming sense of humiliation washed her entire being. Worse than the humiliation was the realization that no matter how hard she fought in the Southern Frontier, she would never earn any military merit.
No, that wasn’t even the worst part.
The worst part was that she would have to relinquish her position as Starhaven’s premier female general to Carissa.
The deafening cheers around her seemed to fade, leaving only a buzzing in her head. All the sounds converged into a single, unyielding thought: she couldn’t accept this.
She couldn’t accept this outcome!
She didn’t have the same prestigious background as Carissa. She didn’t have a master as skilled as Carissa’s. Carissa’s exceptional martial arts were due to her influential family. Top martial artists were easily intimidated by her father and brothers‘ reputations, forcing them to take Carissa as their apprentice.
She hadn’t lost to Carissa.
She had lost to Carissa’s privileged birth.
She just didn’t have the same privileged background as Carissa.
Aurora.” Barrett grasped Aurora’s hand. “Are you alright?”
“I didn’t lose.” She struggled to reclaim her voice, tears spilling over. “Barrett, I didn’t lose! If I had a background like hers, I wouldn’t have lost!”
Barrett remained silent for a moment before nodding slightly.
Rafael stood up, and tossed the Rose Spear back to Carissa. His voice amplified with inner force, he announced, “The Mystic Army will remain under the command of General Sinclair. As for General Yates’s breach of military orders, she will be dealt her punishment after the battle.”
With that single statement, the matter was settled.
Aurora spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, feeling as if something gripped her heart tightly and leaving her in a state of utter panic. Yet she stubbornly stood her ground, her eyes burning with defiance. She couldn’t let Carissa see her falter. Even in defeat, she had to lose with dignity.
Carissa didn’t spare Aurora a glance. Instead, she locked eyes with Rafael, her grip on the Rose Spear trembling slightly.
For a moment, she had truly wanted to kill Aurora. When the wooden stick splintered into shards, the sharpest piece was aimed directly at Aurora’s neck. As she scattered the wooden chips, she felt Rafael’s piercing gaze upon her. And so, she only used a subtle force on the one that was aimed at Aurora’s neck.
Had Carissa employed the same strength that tore through Aurora’s armor, Aurora would have bled profusely and suffered a swift death.
Facing Rafael’s gaze, Carissa’s emotions were turbulent.
Violet was the first to rush over, slapping her on the shoulder. “Snap out of it, you won!”
Carissa forced herself to smile. “Of course.”
How could she ever lose to Aurora?
Violet draped an arm around Carissa’s shoulders, and pointed to the cheering soldiers.
“Those are the same people who once insulted you. Now, they’re cheering for you. They haven’t even seen your true skills! What was that move just now? It’s surprising how easily Aurora was defeated.”
