Chapter 342: 341 What’s it to you?

“Clang!”

Amid the crisp clash of steel, a blindingly fast slash from the white replica of the Holy Sword struck heavily upon the hastily raised Seal of the Holy Sword, sparking a dazzling shower of sparks.

Named Cappelen, the princess of the Empire had appeared in front of Shane out of nowhere and delivered that strike, producing this spectacle.

“Had a timely reaction, did you?”

Cappelen’s beautiful brows lifted slightly, a hint of surprise surfacing on her valiant and beautiful face.

That strike, although not with full force, was still launched with the replica of the Holy Sword. Ordinary knights wouldn’t just fail to block it; they probably wouldn’t even have the time to react before they were struck and fell.

“So it seems, being favored by Luosilusti Mitra is no joking matter after all.”

Cappelen said this, prompting Shane, who was holding up the Holy Sword, to raise an eyebrow.

“You know Luoqi?”

Shane asked this question reflexively.

Unexpectedly, this question was met with an unforeseen response.

“Of course, I do,” Cappelen’s face became stern, her words almost grinding through her teeth: “Even if I forget all the significant things in my life over the past seventeen years, I will absolutely never forget that woman.”

Her words betrayed an astonishing level of obsession and hatred.

Shane narrowed his eyes immediately.

It seemed that this princess of the Empire had a certain unknown relationship with their princess of the Kingdom.

However, this relationship did not appear to be particularly good.

“That woman didn’t come?” Cappelen stared intently at Shane, her voice cold: “Did she know I was here and didn’t dare to come? Or is such a minor border affair not worth the intervention of the greatest genius the Kingdom has seen in a thousand years?”

Hearing this, Shane was displeased.

What’s the meaning of this? She could insult my wife so blatantly when I’m not around?

Where do you think you’re placing me as her man?

And so, Shane responded with no hesitation.

“I wouldn’t even know where you came from, sister.”

The implication of Shane’s words was clear, telling the other party not to overestimate themselves–no one knew she was there, and certainly, no one would come all this way because they were afraid of her.

To put it bluntly…

“Who do you think you are?”

Shane declared while a huge surge of magic power suddenly rose from his body.

“Boom!”

Cappelen was blown away by the magic storm around Shane, skidding across the ground for some distance.

“This magic power…”

Cappelen was somewhat surprised, seemingly taken aback by the strength of Shane’s magic power.

“Your Highness!”

“Your Highness!”

The surrounding female knights, upon seeing this, changed their expressions and glared at Shane, ready to attack.

“Stand down!”

Cappelen halted the female knights with a shout, her gaze turning cold as she looked towards Shane.

“You’re the first person who dares to speak to me like that.”

That’s what Cappelen said.

“Is that so?” Shane curled his lips, replying, “Sorry, I was an adventurer before I became a noble. That is to say, a rough person. Unlike the delicate and educated existence of the Princess, I’m quite different, so please forgive me.”

“Are you mocking me?” Cappelen smiled sweetly, yet her eyes held little mirth, and she said, “Do you act the same way in Luoqi and Lusi’s presence?”

“What about it?” Shane smiled, replying, “Is there a problem?”

“If so, then there is none,” Cappelen replied indifferently: “But if not, then it means you’re not the crude man the same to everyone, but just like all the other men, you’re a commoner who only circles around that woman.”

In other words, the Empire Princess could tolerate Shane being a rough man but could not stand him being a common man.

Such differential treatment would only provoke her disdain and great displeasure.

Cappelen had encountered similar situations in the past.

“Men of the Kingdom only circle around that woman, each one verbally polished and polite, but in reality, they’re eager to find an opportunity to stand up for her. Say one bad word about that woman in my presence, and they all seem like they want to show off, or are provoked, and they would vehemently defend her in front of me.”

Cappelen spoke with a touch of disdain.

“You’re probably the same kind of man, right? Trying to please Luosilusti Mitra by stepping on me? But I must tell you, it’s better not to have too many delusions; that woman looks down on any man. Your actions, in her eyes, are probably no more significant than a show and not worth mentioning.”

Hearing Cappelen’s words, Shane’s brow furrowed.

The next second…

“…!?”

Cappelen’s expression suddenly changed, hastily raising the replica Holy Sword in her hand, just as Shane had done earlier, and positioning it in front of herself.

At the same moment, Shane’s figure turned into an afterimage and suddenly appeared in front of Cappelen, with the Holy Sword in his hand turning into lightning, bringing along a chill sweep of sword light, like a white thunderbolt in a flash.

“Dang–!”

A gong-like collision rang out.

The white thunder-like slash heavily smashed onto the replica Holy Sword raised by Cappelen, exploding a wave of force.

Cappelen felt an immense power erupting on her raised replica Holy Sword and was then sent flying, tumbling awkwardly several times on the ground before slapping the stone beneath her. Springs into the air, stabilizes, and lands on the ground, standing once more.

“Your Highness!”

The female knights of the Broken Blade Knights cried out, their eyes now filled with hostility towards Shane.

“You…!?”

Not only did the female knights of the Broken Blade Knights fail to anticipate Shane’s sudden attack on themselves, but even Cappelen was taken by surprise–so swift and powerful was his strike that she nearly failed to respond in time and made a fool of herself.

At that moment, Cappelen was both shocked and furious.

On the contrary, it was Shane who looked at Cappelen with a smirk and spoke.

“I don’t know what grudge you hold against our Luoqi, but I must say, speaking ill of our Princess in my presence… every person from the Kingdom would stand up for her. Would I now stand up for a cynical person like you from the Empire instead?”

Shane said it as if looking at a fool.

“As to whether she looks down on us or not, what business is it of yours, Princess?”

The piercing remarks made Cappelen’s complexion turn unsightly.

The female knights of the Broken Blade Knights finally couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Shut up!”

“Don’t you dare insult Her Highness!”

“Detestable person of the Kingdom!”

Several female knights yelled out in anger and stretched out their hands, gathering magic power, and even charged directly towards Shane.

“[Grant*Binding.]”

Shane immediately cast a spell, infusing magic power into the atmosphere, turning it into a crushing pressure, covering the female knights like an invisible cage.

The group of female knights immediately froze in place, motionless as if they were frozen.

“Grant Magic?”

Cappelen was taken aback.

This man had actually learned Grant Magic?

Indeed, considering the abundance of his magic power–this kind of magic, which depended on the quantity of magic power to determine its effect, would ordinarily be a triviality in the hands of most but reveal its wonderful utility with someone possessing great magic power–truly tested a person’s individual strength and was quite suitable for him.

This could pose a bit of a problem.

Initially, Cappelen had been thinking about what else Shane might be capable of, aside from Taming Dragons, to have caught that woman’s eye.

Now, she realized Shane’s personal strength might just be on par with hers.

This changed the way Cappelen looked at Shane.

“Interesting.”

Cappelen had always thought that among her peers, no one could match her and that woman’s level.

But now, Shane had displayed overwhelming strength, proving to Cappelen that this world was not devoid of geniuses.

This kindled a fighting spirit in Cappelen’s eyes.

A strong magic power began to emanate from her, vibrating the atmosphere.

“Ho?”

Shane’s lips curved into a smile.

He had known since Cappelen appeared that this Empire Princess was no ordinary individual.

Because though she seemed to be about the same age as Luoqi, her level matched that of the individual proclaimed to be the first talent of the Human Race–a Kingdom Treasure.

Indeed.

Cappelen’s level was seventy, by no means inferior to Luoqi’s.

The series of skills she’d mastered were also of high level, just a bit behind Luoqi.

She even wielded a replica of the Holy Sword, not to be underestimated.

In addition, her remarkable magic power–if she also possessed a unique skill with noteworthy effects, then among her peers, perhaps only Luoqi could surpass her.

This piqued Shane’s interest.

“Come,” Shane beckoned to Cappelen with a crooked finger and said, “Let’s see which is stronger, the Princess of the Kingdom or the Princess of the Empire.”

These words caused a swift change in the battle intent within Cappelen’s eyes.

It grew more intense, even more formidable.

Unavoidably.

Which one is stronger?

That goes without saying.

“Obviously, it’s me!”

Cappelen suddenly burst the ground beneath her feet and launched herself towards Shane.

Her speed was lightning-fast.

“[Flying Star]!”

Without any hesitation, Shane instantly released Celestial Magic, allowing countless minuscule meteors to become a Rain of Light that descended from the skies, pouring down and covering the direction where Cappelen was.

“Divert!”

Facing the downpour of Light Rain, Cappelen neither dodged nor avoided, but simply chanted a short spell, causing the replica of the Holy Sword in her hand to light up.

“Bang bang bang bang bang–!”

The Rain of Light instantly fell upon Cappelen, constantly bombarding her delicate body.

But Cappelen was completely unaffected, face to face with the Rain of Light, she charged towards Shane.

Shane instantly understood why.

“Transferring the replica Holy Sword’s effects to weaken the damage, while combining with Defense Skills, to burst through in one go, huh?”

This Princess indeed has an unexpected toughness.