Newest Chapter For The Highest Tier (August 2021)

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Archdemon Empress Luna

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The sun currently worked even hard compared to the time before they descended to the Hypogeum, meet the men-at-arms and change into their panoplies.

The brilliant sun-rays stretched its golden arms and hugged whomever it came across with.

They zeroed in the Colosseum and found Luna in black and gold armor.

The cascading heat rose to another level and penetrated her already warm body wrapped in metal, coiling around her like a snake and constricting her breathing.

Unfortunately, the sun had singled her out among all the living creatures in the arena.

The sand on the soles of her sabaton was expansive golden brown and as dry as a desert.

A strong breeze blew from the northeast, and she thanked the goddess for that, but she frowned when it failed to cool her skin.

They brought sand particles on her visor instead, and she squeezed her eyes shut.

The Summer Fairfolk's coin shower finally ended, and it made her sigh with relief.

When she opened her eyes, Sloth spoke under his breath that only a Vampire could hear that one could barely see him open his mouth.

It wasn't that obvious when he warned her before they even came forward to approach the courtier and their opponent. "Don't underestimate the Knight, Lune. I saw him train Princess Ourania with the sword when we just arrived at the colosseum. The moment he noticed us there watching them, he changed his fighting stance into something weaker as if he didn't want us to catch on to his pretentious nature."

Her brows furrowed at Sloth's words.

Did he mean that Sir Tristan was a strong Knight putting on this facade?

She shook her head at him.

That can't be!

"My husband and I had a confrontation with Princess Ourania. Sir Tristan went to her rescue. The pathetic Knight wasn't able to lay a hand on us." Luna even pitied the faceless Knight as she smirked, "He was that weak I felt embarrassed for the Apollyon's mother. The bitch could have chosen someone powerful to defend her antics."

"Do not exclude the possibility that the Knight was doing it for show." It was the first time she heard Sloth speak with conviction, and it felt like he had struck her with a lightning bolt. "I heard Faeries from the Fall Courts are the ruthless and sneakiest Fae of all—worse than the Fae from the Winter Fair Folk."

With gritted teeth, Luna slowed down her pace to match her Familiar when he slowed down.

"Where did you get all this information when you just got here?" Luna figured out he did this on purpose so that she would grip his forearm, "You never left my sight."

"I have my ways, pretty Lune."

That response didn't satisfy me at all!

"You know too much."

Pinching their lips together so as not to reveal their plans, Sloth and Luna faced the courtier.

The courtier declared that the seconds who represented the main duelist would also be subjected to legal punishment if defeated.

Sloth didn't even look worried when he grinned at her.

Before the combat, each duelist swore that their case and testimony about the Summer Princess' attempted murder was true.

That they carried no weapons other than the long, narrow blade the men-at-arms from the Hypogeum had given them.

The four participants were not allowed to use magical aids.

The team that breaks this rule will be vanquished.

"This will be the last time I will ask this question." The Courtier said as the birds circling above them cast a shade on his face, "Will the Summer Princess apologize and take responsibility for the Vampire Empress' accusations?"

Luna was getting pissed off, but she held her frustration in.

It was mentioned in the rules that the courtier would attempt a reconciliation before the meeting even took place. But she and Princess Ourania decided on this duel at the spur of the moment.

She couldn't blame the courtier when he was doing this because it was his job.

"No. Never." Princess Ourania spoke mechanically, "I don't apologize when I am not in the wrong."

Luna scowled at the heartless bitch!

Apollyon's mother had no choice but to accept her challenge, or she might lose face.

She hoped for her death, but that would be too easy, right?

"Will Empress Luna defend her honor and stand with her challenge?"

"I am here, aren't I?" Luna answered, "Courtier."

Duels were the surest way to defend their reputation through the value of words.

What was more romantic than laying their lives to a promise--cross her heart and hope to die?

Can this backstabber face her and claim victory through her own skill?

Will she use Sir Tristan to further her hidden agendas?

Will she finds a way to cheat out of this trial?

She couldn't wait to impress Apollyon's mother with her martial arts--offensive and defensive close combat techniques--to reinforce her warrior status as an Amazon in case the old hag didn't know.

It didn't matter whether she was her mother-in-law or not.

Luna wouldn't hold herself back anymore in fighting for justice, honor and vengeance.

"We will now begin." The courtier took off the gauntlet on his right hand to officially start the duel.

"All the duelists will face the judgment of Fate. The winner will be able to defend their honor through victory while the loser will be dealt with according to the law of the Summer Courts."

"I thought this is a fight to the death," Sloth said blankly as he waved his sword in the air.

"Well, it depends on the outcome."

Luna's gaze scanned the Royal Box and peered at King Oberon, who wore his red Imperial Robes as he held a staff, while Queen Titania wore a pale yellow airy gown with a light blue flower crown with a matching veil on her long hair.

King Oberon and Queen Titania can only do as much coddling with Princess Ourania.

The Summer Monarchs cannot help her escape from the hole she dug into.

From the corner of her eye, she saw her husband Apollyon approach the Royal Box and took a seat at the right side of the King.