Time passed without notice, as the fiery youth and the icy girl continued their intense battle within the Magma Sea, presenting an eerie scene that defied the entire Magma Sea.
Here, flames erupted sporadically, while at other times, the magma surged like waves, inconceivably dotted with fragmented icebergs drifting within it. This coexistence of ice and fire, icebergs floating in the magma, was a phenomenon so at odds with the laws of physics that it made onlookers feel as if they were in a dream, completely removed from reality.
If Sgranot were still here, he would certainly doubt his own eyes, wondering if he was dreaming.
The ancient fire dragon, however, seemed to feel nothing at all and continued its slumber, remaining undisturbed from beginning to end without any abnormal reaction.
As for Liz, she could no longer afford to worry about Reiger.
Under the attack of several magic-guided mechanical puppets, her strength, merely at the level of a regular Swordsman, was already stretched to its limits.
Each of these mechanical puppets was a product of unknown ancient magic civilization technologies, and just one could pose a challenge to an experienced Swordsman. Even a Sword Saint would find it impossible to overcome them quickly.
Faced with such foes, Liz was required to defeat multiple at once, a task that significantly overtaxed her abilities.
If Reiger hadn’t, for safety’s sake, strengthened Liz with dozens of magical enhancements before departing her side, and had Liz not stopped holding back, resorting to the War King Sword Skill—which she seldom used ever since she became Reiger’s Attendant—she would have already been captured by these peculiar magic-guided puppets.
However, as time wore on, the systematic assault of the mechanical puppets continued unbroken, while Liz’s physical and Magical Power began to falter, showing signs of an impending defeat.
In the midst of these faint swooshing sounds, the ghostly figures of the mechanical puppets seemed to persist, darting around until Liz’s vision blurred.
Liz held the Moslo Sword, breathing heavily, as the glow of Magical Power around her body dimly faded away.
Suddenly, Liz swiveled and swung her sword to the side.
In the burst of sparks, a claw-like weapon, which had silently reached towards Liz, was deflected by the Moslo Sword, sending the mechanical puppet that wielded it lightly drifting away, once again ghosting around the area.
Soon after, two more sounds of clashing metal echoed as Liz parried two approaching claw-like weapons, forcing back the silent mechanical puppets that had snuck up on her.
The exchange between Liz and the mechanical puppets was such that one side staunchly defended in place while the other lurked nearby, waiting for an opportunity. With their unseen and silent flying and occasional stealthy attacks, the encounter seemed unremarkable but was fraught with hidden dangers, unfathomable to outsiders.
Liz felt that if it hadn’t been for her training in the War King Sword Skill, which could stimulate Spiritual Power, rendering her exceptionally keen to the silent onslaught of the mechanical puppets, she would have long since been drained of all strength by the constant, chilling energy pulsating on their claw-like weapons and become a plaything at the mercy of her enemies.
These mechanical puppets were too strange: their strength, their attacks, even their combat patterns were exceedingly eerie, leaving Liz without any idea of how to overcome them.
If this continued, her defeat was certain.
At this thought, anxiety began to creep into Liz’s heart.
"No, I must not panic," she told herself.
Liz struggled to maintain her composure.
The words her master once told her on some night naturally echoed in her ears.
"The most crucial thing is to maintain," her master had said.
"No matter how fierce the battle may be, as long as you can keep your breathing steady, you can continue fighting."
"If the rhythm of your breath doesn’t falter, then strength will naturally generate within you, allowing your lungs and blood circulation to maintain a certain level."
"If you can achieve this, then not only will your stamina become endless, but your vitality will also be enhanced, and even injuries will heal quickly."
"As long as you are concentrated enough, you will definitely find the opportunity to win."
When exactly the master had spoken these words, Liz could no longer recall.
But she unhesitatingly chose to believe them.
Murmuring to herself, Liz’s breathing unknowingly began to steady and fall into an orderly rhythm.
As she focused and maintained the pace of her breath, her mind became inexplicably serene.
Suddenly, Liz felt as if she was seeing something strange.
She saw the bodies of the specter-like mechanical puppets flitting back and forth becoming... transparent?
Liz unwittingly widened her eyes.
And as she did so, Liz gradually began to see the mechanical puppets’ bodies more clearly.
The black garments covering them were vanishing.
Their flesh began to turn transparent, revealing every muscle fiber distinctly visible.