The moment my voice faded, I was already swinging my sword towards her head.
Rosaline still maintained her confident smile as she smoothly released an attack of her own.
Since my speed could now match hers, Rosaline couldn't use speed as an advantage!
Bang!
Both weapons collided, and the sound reverberated throughout the surroundings.
I looked into Rosaline's eyes, and she held my gaze. The world around us seemed to come to a standstill as we were locked in a death stare.
Meanwhile, the crowd of soldiers and trainees were in an uproar.
Especially Bronson…
His eyes widened in shock as the glaive in his hand trembled briefly.
"Evenly matched? How's that possible?" he muttered in shock.
"Aren't they supposed to be evenly matched?" someone asked in surprise. After all, both parties were rank 1.
"Not in this situation…" Bronson muttered, and didn't further his explanation.
Gripping his glaive tightly, he narrowed his eyes as he stared at Aristarkh.
He felt there was something unsettling about the young master!
There were a few others within the crowd that noticed Aristarkh's abnormality, but didn't state it bluntly.
…
Rosaline pressed her spear against mine, then forced some distance between the both of us.
"You've gotten stronger… but not strong enough," she explained gently as she twisted her spear.
Her spear began spinning in a circle as she continued speaking.
"Have you ever experienced a cursed art before?"
Holding my sword, I looked at the spinning spear in her hand with an incredulous expression, fascinated by the sight of it spinning and gradually releasing sparks of purple lightning, exploding slightly out into the surroundings.
Bzzzz… bzzzz… bzzzzz…
"Due to possessing cursed energy, one can either choose to learn the available cursed art, or… create one for themselves. Of course, only a terrifying genius can possess the level of comprehension required to craft a cursed art for oneself."
It seemed like Rosaline was giving a lecture, but it was anything but that.
In no time, her spear had turned into a spinning circle.
Her right hand held the spear above her head, and it levitated barely an inch above her palm, spinning with a resounding echo.
"Lightning cursed art: Thunder Spear Attack!"
Rosaline muttered under her breath and sent the spear flying.
As soon as she did, she folded her hands, watching the sight without a change in her expression.
She'd expected me and her to exchange blows for a long time, and using that, she could slam me with the stick repeatedly, beating me to a pulp, all in the name of 'expelling' cursed energy.
'Tsk… he's no fun at all.'
Because things didn't work out as Rosaline expected, she clicked her tongue in annoyance.
Bronson, Rollin, and a few others noticed the cursed art and shook their heads with bitter smiles.
The commander truly wasn't giving the young master any chances at all!
To think she'd use a curse technique on someone who had just become a cursed warrior… it was truly unbelievable.
Some of them felt pity for Aristarkh, acknowledging his talent.
It was only because he was still too…
Suddenly, everyone's eyes widened as a whisper akin to the devil echoed in their ears.
Rosaline's pupils shrank slightly as the words resounded within them.
"Dragon Flame Cursed Art: Swift Sword Dragon…"
Roarrrrrr…
A sound akin to a wild beast echoed through the surroundings, snapping everyone's attention in my direction.
At first, the spear was spinning rapidly towards me. However, the next moment…
As soon as the thunderous roar echoed, I swung my sword.
A bright orange red glow appeared briefly on my blade before moving at lightning speed toward the spear.
It seemed to pierce straight through it, causing the spear to lose momentum.
The spear was tossed aside. However, the raging dragon still streaked through the air swiftly in a scorching wave.
"What?" Rosaline's eyes widened in shock, her mouth hanging open slightly as she stared at the dazzling, massive bright orange red dragon heading straight for her.
The dragon opened its mouth the moment it arrived and bit down on her with terrifying intensity.
"Fuck!" she cursed aloud and immediately moved, her hands tracing a pale blue arc through the air.
Her slender hands tapped gently onto the blade, halting its momentum.
The dragon let out one final roar before vanishing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Then, the sword slowly fell to the ground, clashing against the grassland.
Trailing more than two meters, all the grass had been burnt to ashes, leaving behind a line of scorched remains drifting faintly with the wind.
I stared at Rosaline in surprise, not expecting her to block the attack.
"You… monster!" Rosaline whispered, her expression gobsmacked.
"How the fuck did you use a cursed art?"
How long had it even been since Aristarkh became a cursed fighter?
And he could already use a cursed art?
Such a thing was simply indescribable!
Since neither of us were holding weapons anymore, the winner was uncertain.
Of course, I didn't answer Rosaline. I simply maintained a teasing, calm smile that irked her to no end.
Still, it felt extremely satisfying to finally release some of my cursed energy!
Rosaline narrowed her eyes at me before finally shaking her head.
"Fuck…" she cursed once more, then announced with a reluctant expression.
"You won."
"Huh?" I asked in surprise.
Rosaline glanced at me and snorted.
"I didn't plan to lose… but here goes nothing. State anything you want and I'll do it without hesitation. Whatever cursed creature you want dead, whichever kind of treasure you want… anything at all, as long as it's within my power."
"Hah…"
"What?"
"That…??"
Once again, everyone was thrown into an uproar.
They hadn't recovered from the shock of Aristarkh becoming a cursed warrior, then him using a cursed art, and finally… their ruthless commander admitting defeat.
Now she was offering the young master whatever he wanted.
Everyone felt their breaths quicken, as though they themselves were being asked the question.
Everyone had something they wanted.
Some had lost their families to cursed monsters, and this was a chance for revenge.
Others wanted certain heaven defying treasures.
All their gazes converged on me with fiery intensity, wondering what I'd choose.
In truth, I couldn't think of something I wanted right now…
With the system, I could achieve whatever I desired…
However…
'With the exception of one thing.'
The fact that I'd have to obtain my target's hearts and make them mine all by myself.
That left only one satisfying conclusion to what I truly wanted.
It wasn't anything much.
On the contrary, it was extremely simple.
I raised my gaze to meet Rosaline's eyes, a teasing smirk playing at the corner of my lips as I stated my request.
"A kiss."