Chapter 428: Cassandra’s Garden Has No Exit

Back inside the Sacred Arena, Masanori and Kagehito stood several meters apart, their expressions growing increasingly grim.

Despite having consumed the [Top Rank Royal Grade Qi Burst Pills], neither had managed to gain the upper hand against Cassandra.

Worse still, the demonic woman appeared to be enjoying herself rather than taking their attacks seriously.

Masanori tightened his grip on his katana, his expression filled with frustration.

’Damn it. Just how strong is this woman? Even with the pill’s enhancement, we can barely pressure her.’

Kagehito remained silent beside him, his eyes constantly shifting between Cassandra’s blood sword and the shadows beneath her feet.

The two leaders exchanged a brief glance, silently discussing their next move. However, Cassandra quickly noticed their unusual behavior.

She tilted her head, a playful smile appearing on her crimson lips. "Eh? What are you two whispering about over there?"

She casually rested her blood sword against her shoulder before giggling. "Come on, gentlemen. Didn’t you enter this arena to fight me? Why are you standing around like frightened little rabbits?"

Masanori’s expression immediately darkened. "Shut your mouth, you damn demoness. I’ll deal with you soon enough."

Cassandra raised an eyebrow. "Demoness?"

For a moment, she appeared genuinely surprised.

However, her expression quickly changed into a delighted grin. "Hehehe. Oh, how flattering. But if you’re going to call me something like that..."

She slowly extended her crimson-black fingernails, her blood-red eyes gleaming with wicked amusement. "I’d much prefer Demonic Queen, thank you very much."

Masanori’s mouth twitched in irritation.

Kagehito, meanwhile, merely tightened his grip on his twin blades.

Cassandra chuckled before slowly lowering her blood sword. "Well, since neither of you seems interested in attacking..."

She suddenly leaned forward, her smile becoming increasingly sinister. "I suppose I’ll take the initiative this time."

Whoosh!

Her figure shot forward, leaving a faint crimson afterimage behind.

Masanori and Kagehito reacted immediately.

The two leaders had already witnessed her terrifying swordsmanship, so neither dared to underestimate her approach.

Masanori lowered his stance, one hand gripping his sheath while the other rested on his katana’s hilt.

A tremendous amount of sword Qi began gathering around his weapon, causing the blade to tremble violently within its sheath.

[Nine Heavens Severing Formation]

SHIIING!

Masanori suddenly stepped forward and drew his katana.

His first slash released an enormous crescent of sword Qi, followed immediately by another.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

His wrist moved with extraordinary precision as he unleashed nine consecutive slashes, each carrying a different angle and trajectory.

The first three sword waves approached Cassandra directly from the front.

Meanwhile, the remaining six spread outward before curving around her sides, forming a deadly formation designed to seal every possible escape route.

Masanori clenched his teeth, pouring even more Qi into the technique. "Let’s see you avoid all nine of these."

At almost the same moment, Kagehito vanished.

[Thousand Crow Shadows]

Whoosh!

His shadow suddenly expanded across the ground before splitting into dozens of dark silhouettes.

Each silhouette rose from the floor, transforming into a masked figure wielding twin blades identical to his own.

The shadow clones immediately scattered across the battlefield, slipping between Masanori’s approaching sword waves.

Some rushed toward Cassandra from the front, while others circled around her sides and rear.

Within moments, the entire battlefield had become a deadly trap.

Nine enormous sword waves approached from the outside, while countless shadowy assassins closed in from within.

Masanori’s lips curled into a fierce grin as he watched their combined technique unfold. "Nowhere left to run, woman."

Meanwhile, Kagehito’s cold voice echoed from somewhere among the shadows. "Your blood sword won’t save you this time."

However, Cassandra merely glanced around at the approaching attacks.

Instead of becoming nervous, her crimson eyes lit up with amusement. "Ohhh? Now this is much prettier."

She watched the nine sword waves converge while the shadow clones rushed toward her from every direction.

For a brief moment, her smile widened. "Unfortunately, gentlemen..."

She slowly lowered her sword, her fingers tightening around its crimson hilt. "It’s still not enough."

[Crimson Lotus Waltz]

Cassandra suddenly spun gracefully on her heel, her blood sword sweeping in a beautiful circular motion.

SHWOOOOOSH!

An enormous wave of Blood Demon Qi erupted around her.

Crimson sword arcs blossomed outward, intertwining into the shape of a magnificent blood-red lotus.

Each rotating sword arc resembled a delicate flower petal, yet every petal carried terrifyingly concentrated killing intent.

As Cassandra continued spinning, more crimson petals unfolded around her, forming an enormous blooming lotus that enveloped her entire body.

BOOOOM!

The first three sword waves collided with the outer petals.

However, instead of breaking through, they were immediately shredded by the rotating blood sword Qi.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The remaining six sword waves struck from different directions, attempting to overwhelm the lotus through sheer force.

Unfortunately, the crimson petals continued rotating, intercepting each incoming attack and tearing it apart.

Massive explosions erupted across the battlefield as sword Qi collided with Blood Demon Qi.

Meanwhile, Kagehito’s shadow clones suffered an even worse fate.

The moment they entered the lotus’s range, countless crimson petals swept through their bodies.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

One after another, the shadowy assassins were sliced apart, dissolving into clouds of dark Qi.

Several clones attempted to leap above the rotating formation, only for additional blood-red sword arcs to rise and shred them before they could descend.

Kagehito immediately sensed the danger.

’Impossible. It’s cutting through every shadow simultaneously?’

His eyes widened beneath his mask as the crimson lotus continued expanding toward his actual position.

Without hesitation, he canceled his technique and retreated into the shadows.

Whoosh!

His figure vanished just as several crimson sword arcs swept through the spot where he had been standing.

Meanwhile, Masanori found himself facing the remaining petals rushing toward him. "Damn it."

He immediately raised his katana, gripping the hilt with both hands as he poured his enhanced Qi into the blade.

[Iron Mountain Guard]

A dense layer of metallic sword Qi gathered around his weapon, forming a defensive barrier before his chest.

CLAAAAANG!

The first crimson arc struck his defense, sending a violent tremor through both arms.

Masanori gritted his teeth and held his ground.

However, the second arc struck almost immediately afterward.

BAAANG!

His defensive sword Qi cracked under the impact.

Before he could recover, another crimson petal came spinning toward him.

BOOOOOOM!

The final impact shattered his defensive barrier and forced him backward several meters, his feet carving deep grooves across the arena floor. "Urgh..."

Masanori finally stopped himself, breathing heavily as he lowered his trembling katana.

A thin stream of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Not far away, Kagehito emerged from the shadows, his breathing equally strained.

Although he had managed to escape the worst of Cassandra’s attack, several shallow cuts had appeared across his arms and shoulders.

Both leaders stared toward the center of the battlefield.

As the clouds of dust and scattered Qi gradually settled, a beautiful crimson figure became visible.

Cassandra remained standing in her original position, her blood sword resting casually against her shoulder.

Not a single wound could be seen on her body.

She glanced around at the devastated battlefield before letting out a disappointed sigh. "Aww... And here I thought you two were finally going to entertain me."

Masanori’s expression twisted with anger, but his heavy breathing prevented him from immediately responding.

Kagehito remained silent, his eyes narrowing as he searched for another possible opening.

However, Cassandra merely chuckled at their miserable appearances. "Hehehe. Well, considering how strong I am, I suppose this outcome was inevitable."

She casually brushed a loose strand of crimson hair behind her ear. "Still, I must say, you gentlemen have been rather disappointing."

Her smile suddenly became much more sinister. "Which means..."

Cassandra slowly raised her free hand, extending her elegant fingers toward the two exhausted leaders. "I believe it’s time to end this little game."

Masanori immediately stiffened. "What are you planning now?"

Kagehito instinctively lowered his stance, the shadows around his feet beginning to gather once again.

However, Cassandra ignored their reactions.

Instead, she examined her crimson-black fingernails before smiling sweetly. "Since you’ve entertained me for so long, I suppose it’s only proper that I prepare a special farewell gift."

She gently tapped one finger against her lips, pretending to consider her options. "Hmm... Yes. Something beautiful would be appropriate."

Her blood-red eyes suddenly gleamed with terrifying excitement. "Hehehe. How about I show you gentlemen my lovely little garden?"

Without waiting for an answer, Cassandra snapped her fingers.

Snap!

A strange pulse of Blood Demon Qi spread outward from her body, causing the surrounding atmosphere to become unnaturally heavy.

Then, she gracefully spread both arms, her crimson hair fluttering behind her as a wicked smile stretched across her face. "Now then, gentlemen..."

Her voice echoed across the battlefield, carrying a sinister sweetness that sent chills down the spectators’ spines.

"Welcome to my garden."

[Crimson Garden]