*Clank* *Clank* *Clank* "Heh. You are weaker than I expected." Herms laughed as he continued to block Astaria's attacks with his Great Sword. "…" Astaria didn't say anything and continued with her attacks. Unlike Nux, she didn't have to play with her opponent's emotions to achieve a victory. Her battle style was different. A Battle Style that oozed out with confidence. A bold, relentless, and dominant warrior. That was what Astaria was. Herms, on the other hand, held an advantage when it came to strength, however, Astaria didn't give him any chance to use that strength. From the start to now, she has been relentlessly attacking him, forcing him to defend and only defend. The victor was this battle was already clear. Of course, this didn't mean Astaria let her guard down, she continued to attack Herms. Aiming at his legs, arms, shoulders, abdomen, back, neck, feet, forcing him to move his sword as much as possible and expend as much stamina as possible. Herms didn't have a choice. He knew that he would have a hard time fighting against Astaria, however… the battle would be this one-sided… He never expected it. Astaria was full of openings. However, Herms felt like those openings are only there because Astaria was fighting against him and he used a Great Sword. None of those weaknesses was something he could affect using a Great Sword. It was as if Astaria has specially reformed her fighting style to match and perfectly counter his own. Of course, Herms was giving himself too much credit. He was not alone. Astaria, who had sparred with all the Emperors there were, had prepared a battle style to counter all of them. That was the only thing she could train on after becoming an Emperor after all. A constant will to improve. Astaria was burning with that. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂 Of course, this didn't mean she knew everything about all the Emperors. Only an idiot would go all out while sparring against an enemy. All the Emperors saved their trump cards. Herms did the same as well. A poisoned needle suddenly appeared in Herm's hand and he quickly threw it, aiming at Astaria's waist. Astaria, however, completely ignored the needle and continued to attack. Herms's smile widened. Astaria was underestimating his hidden weapon. The poison it was laced with could kill a King Stage Cultivator within 10 seconds. Even an Emperor would slow down once the poison affects them. Herms was planning to keep on attacking Astaria with these needles, and once the effect of poison stacks up, he would end her. A smile appeared on Herms's face when he thought about it. Soon, however, the smile that had just appeared on his face disappeared. The needle was reflected… It failed to pierce through the Purple Black 'clothes' Astaria was wearing. Herms's narrowed his eyes. He had injected his own Mana into that needle… it should have pierced through any normal 3 Star Armor… a piece of clothes shouldn't be able to block it… Something was wrong… Herms started thinking. "!!!" Soon, however, his eyes widened in surprise as Astaria attacked his arm. This attack was unusually quick, and since his mind was already preoccupied, he only managed to react at the last second. Astaria's sword managed to cut through the vambrace and graze his forearm. "Uggghh!" Herms groaned in pain as he clenched the Sword he was holding. Astaria, however, wasn't done yet and continued her attack since Herms's defense had weakened. "Aagghh!" Herms groaned in pain as Astaria's sword grazed his waist. 'What kind of sword is that?' Herms questioned inwardly. That sword was cutting through his Armor as if it was paper. His Armor was practically useless. Herms, however, did not have time to think more about it. Astaria was now unleashing a series of attacks at him just because he temporarily lost some of his concentration for a fraction of a second. Herms's looked at Astaria's face and seeing that resolute look in her eyes, which seemed to be dead set on killing him, he couldn't help was shiver. Astaria was reading him as if he was an open book. Herms's felt that she was reading his mind, the moment he loses his focus, she would jump on the chance and attack again. Herms clenched his fist in anger, then, he threw 9 hidden needles, this time, he aimed at Astaria's face, hands, and shoes. Astaria was forced to stop and block some of those poisoned needles, Herms used this chance and for the first time in the entire battle, He attacked. *Clank* Astaria barely defended, however, while doing that, her sword was pushed back, and with her defense crumbled, *Bam* Herms kicked her abdomen. Astaria was pushed back, Herms then rushed towards her and with momentum on his side, he used the weight of his sword, trying to slice Astaria into two parts. *Clank* Astaria barely defended, however, Herms easily overpowered her and she was forced to step back again. Herms's smile widened. He had now gained the momentum. Now all he had to do was to continue attacking Astaria. He moved his own Mana again and slashed his sword. *Clank* Astaria defended at the last moment, however, the impact was so strong that his body flew away. "Khookh!" At the same time, Astaria coughed out blood. She quickly rolled on the floor and gained her balance, but the moment she did, Herms appeared right in front of her and attack again. This time, however, Astaria moved her own Mana to jump back. Herms's sword missed. Stopping it midway was nearly impossible, Astaria used this chance to rush toward Herms, Herms forcefully broke the momentum of his Great Sword and barely defended against Astaria's attack, However, suddenly, a smile appeared on Astaria's face and she smiled, "Oh, I guess their battle ended. Tsk, I can't believe he killed his opponent faster than me." Herms's expression changed. He moved his Mana again and forced Astaria to move back. He then quickly turned his head to where Roone and Nux were fighting and seeing that scene, Herms's paused.