Chapter 876: The Invasion [1]

Two days passed quickly-

In the vast space, beyond the Elven Star's outer orbit, Zhao Tian sat on Lirien's true form.

Her loong body stretched from snout to tail tip, and her body was filled with indigo dragon scales.

Zhao Tian sat near the base of her neck, legs draped casually over the ridge where scales met softer, warmer hide.

He glanced down at the beautiful Elven planet below them.

With a low sigh, he mumbled, "Hmm… since the barriers are built by the First Honoured One, they can definitely withstand great attacks."

Lirien turned her massive head "Yes, My Lord. It can definitely withstand assaults that would shatter lesser worlds."

He raised his hand and a white mask appeared on his hand as he placed it on his face "They're here,"

Turning his head, he saw a small ark in the distance dashing towards him at full speed.

Lirien's mane flared brighter, "My Lord... shall we greet them?"

He stood on top of Lirien's mane and looked at the approaching ark.

*swooosh*

The ark stopped a few meters before him and the main door opened with a hiss.

A beautiful woman with long black hair with red edges on the end of her hair and crimson eyes stepped out of the ark.

Seeing her, Zhao Tian frowned 'I thought a lot more people would come. Only one? Or is she some kind of messenger.'

(A/n: recheck chapter 870 to recall her)

She floated forward until she hovered ten meters away from him.

Looking at him, her gaze condensed as she glanced at his flowing white hair and the broad, powerful lines of his shoulders and chest beneath the robes.

"Honoured One..."

Zhao Tian frowned beneath the mask. "So are you the one who sent that message? Someone from the Fallen Mandate?"

The woman smiled slightly "Indeed, I was the one who sent that message. But I am not from the Fallen Mandate."

"I am the leader of the Space Pirates Organization."

Huh? Hearing this Zhao Tian was surprised 'I see...'

"Since you said it's an invasion, I thought there would be more people to attack the Elven star."

The woman stepped forward in the space, "My target is not the Elven star anyway, my only target is you..."

As she spoke, she extended her hand and a beautiful katana appeared in her hand "I, Yuliya De Valtoria, am asking for a fair duel against the third Honoured One."

-_- Zhao Tian gave her a blank stare "A duel?"

Yuliya inclined her head "Precisely. Just you and me."

Lirien's massive body shifted beneath Zhao Tian as she growled at Yuliya.

Getting suspicious, he asked, "You expect me to believe the leader of the Space Pirates came alone... for honor?"

Yuliya laughed under her breath "Honor?"

She twirled the katana once, the blade singing a single clear note that made nearby dust particles ignite into sparks. "No. For the time being... just think I am curious."

She stepped forward again "The Fallen Mandate may want your head on a pike for their collection. As for the Astral Realm, they are still hunting you. Me?"

Shrugging elegantly, she continued "I just want to know if the third Honoured One is really worth the myths."

"And honestly, there is another reason, but I will tell you that later."

Her red eyes looked into his blue eyes "So. Will you indulge me? Or must I force the issue... and risk damaging that lovely barrier your predecessor left behind after all for you to attack me?"

Zhao Tian looked at her for a moment, and he raised one hand.

A pulse of light flared along his arm, and a black sword appeared in his grip "Alright."

Yuliya's smile widened "Now, that's it."

She exhaled once, and then she raised her katana in a perfect two-handed iaijutsu stance with the blade horizontal across her body.

The space between them crackled as red lightning crackled from her body.

*swoosh* In the next instant, she appeared in front of him swining her sword.

*clank* He quickly blocked it with his sword, the blades grinding against each other, leaving a ring of shockwaves, shattering nearby micrometeorites into glittering dust.

"Not bad," she purred. "But I've only begun."

She twisted her wrists and the katana slid free in a shower of sparks, immediately whipping back in a reverse cut aimed at his left shoulder.

Zhao Tian dodged and the blade hissed past his robe.

He countered instantly with a single, fluid thrust of his sword straight toward her heart.

Yuliya arched backward in midair, her spine bending impossibly like a bow drawn to breaking point.

The blade passed over her chest by millimeters, close enough to singe the high collar of her coat and leave a thin line of smoke curling from the fabric.

She laughed and snapped upright, using the momentum to spin into a whirlwind of slashes as three horizontal cuts, each one trailing crimson afterimages, dashed toward him.

*sleesh* *sleesh* *slessh*

Zhao Tian parried the first slash with an upward block, deflected the second with a downward sweep that sent her blade skidding along his edge, then met the third with a direct clash that created another shockwave ring.

Lirien watched them with a concerned face.

*clank* They locked swords again, their blades grinding against each other, and their faces almost touching.

He twisted his wrist, and a wave of pure light erupted from the edge, slamming into her guard like a tidal wave.

*THOOM*

Yuliya's arms buckled and she was hurled back, tumbling through the space in a controlled spin before righting herself.

Then her aura exploded.

Crimson lightning erupted from her body, forming jagged wings of blood-red electricity behind her.

She raised her katana high above her head.

"Again..."

And she charged straight through the space like a comet of red lightning.

Looking at this, Zhao Tian's gaze condensed, and he gripped his sword tightly.

He dashed forward and collided with her mid space.

*THOOOM*

The shockwave this time was cataclysmic, which is visible from the Elven Star itself as a sudden flare of white and crimson that briefly outshone the barrier's glow.

Standing inside the room, Sylméria, Eira, Xia Shenyi, and Freya were watching the fight via the holographic screen in front of them.

With a confused frown, Xia Shenyi asked "That woman... just wanted to fight Tian?"

Freya gave a thoughtful nod "Seems like it."

Turning to them, Sylmeria spoke "Just be on high alert. She might have ulterior motives."

Eira chimed in, "Don't worry, Mother, we are closely observing the surroundings of the star."

"There are no other arks close to us. She is the only one here."