The end of the battle was abruptly cut short by a slightly sharp shout, like a taut bowstring being forcibly held down.
In the arena, A Mi's figure seemed to merge with the shadows, only to transform into a striking leopard in an instant.
He keenly seized the slight, almost imperceptible hesitation and stiffness in the Elf Armored Soldier's movements, caused by the stacking of multiple 【Burning Status】 effects on his body.
It was in this split second of lightning speed that his gaze, like the most precise probe, locked onto a spot on the Armored Soldier's chest plate—
where the runes, repeatedly scorched by flames, had dimmed, the metal slightly warped and deformed, revealing a fragile connection seam slightly wider than a strand of hair.
The sharp Short Blades in his hands, reforged from inconspicuous metal blocks, now shimmered with a deadly cold light, like two long-coiled venomous snakes finally baring their poisoned Fanged Ones.
The Dual Blades, one left and one right, had silently breached the Armored Soldier's final defensive perimeter; the cold tips had even lightly brushed against the soft inner lining beneath the armor.
A sharp glint flashed in A Mi's eyes like lightning; he let out a low, brief shout from his throat, suddenly exerting force from his core, his arm muscles tightening like steel cables, ready to channel all his Strength through these Short Blades into that fatal weak point!
"Stop!"
The Elf Butler's voice, carrying an urgency and a hint of undisguised anger, cracked like a whip tearing silk, sharply piercing the heavy air, forcibly freezing the earth-shattering strike just before it landed.
A Mi's movement instantly shifted from extreme motion to absolute stillness, demonstrating astonishing control.
The cold, gleaming tips stopped steadily, as if blocked by an invisible barrier, a mere inch away from the Armored Soldier's vital chest area, completely motionless.
He slowly retracted the Short Blades, his wrist flicking as the blade light vanished, simultaneously stepping back two paces calmly with a light touch of his feet.
The sharp, imposing Aura surrounding him, like a drawn sword, rapidly receded like the tide, returning to his usual calm-as-water demeanor; only his slightly rapid breathing and the fine beads of sweat on his brow revealed the toll of the intense exchange just moments ago.
He raised his eyes and looked calmly at the Butler standing by the edge of the arena, awaiting the final judgment.
Only then did the Elf Armored Soldier seem to break free from the suffocating pressure, secretly letting out a sigh of relief, but this was immediately followed by a stronger wave of shame and unwillingness.
He slowly unclenched his fists, his knuckles white from the strain.
"Enough, you did well. Come back," the Butler finally spoke, his tone flat, without blaming the Armored Soldier.
After all, the gap in rank wasn't insurmountable, and the opponent had used an Art Tool; unexpected situations were normal.
It was just that this "normal" outcome was clearly not what he wished to see.
The Armored Soldier obeyed, silently glancing down at the clear Burning Status mark on his chest plate and the seam that had nearly been completely breached. He then looked up deeply at A Mi, whose Aura was still steady, seemingly with energy to spare, and ultimately said nothing.
He sheathed his blade, bowed formally toward the Butler, and then his figure dissolved into a streak of pale green light, vanishing into the Contract Space.
At the side, Xiao Ye, who had been holding her breath with tightly clenched fists, finally dared to gasp deeply. Her tightly wound nerves relaxed, and only then did she realize her palms were already soaked with cold sweat and ice-cold.
She quickly trotted over to A Mi, offering him the water flask filled with clear water that she had saved up to buy, her eyes full of concern and a lingering trace of lingering fear.
A Mi naturally did not refuse the kindness. He took the flask and drank several large gulps, the cool water temporarily alleviating the dryness in his throat and the fatigue emanating from his Spirit Body.
At this moment, the Elf Butler's gaze fell upon the two who had returned to normal; his expression shifted unpredictably like the summer sky, alternating between pale and ashen, clearly undergoing intense internal turmoil, far from the calm he tried to maintain outwardly.
He took several deep breaths in succession, his chest rising and falling slightly, barely managing to forcibly suppress the shock, anger, and lingering fear arising from the battle exceeding expectations and nearly resulting in an "accident."
He cleared his throat forcefully, attempting to restore his usual authoritative and detached tone, yet the arrogance he once displayed without reservation was now noticeably diminished, even carrying a barely perceptible lack of confidence.
"I..." He paused, seemingly weighing his words, before finally speaking with a deliberately maintained, somewhat stiff solemnity.
"...In the clan, I am called Xiao San by the esteemed Masters. And you two,"
He slightly raised his chin: "May call me Third Master."
He finally announced his title, attempting to re-establish the gap in hierarchy and authority before these two "subordinates."
"Pfft—!"
A Mi, who was drinking water, heard the address and couldn't help it; he immediately turned his head and sprayed the water he hadn't swallowed out, then bent over, coughing violently.
His face was a mixture of disbelief and a struggle to hold back, which ultimately failed, resulting in a bizarrely contorted expression.
Xiao Ye beside him, although not reacting as intensely as A Mi, quickly lowered her head, her shoulders subtly twitching almost imperceptibly. She tightly pressed her lips together, afraid of making any inappropriate sound.
Seeing their reactions, the Butler Xiao San's face instantly darkened as if dyed with thick ink, and a vein seemed to throb on his temple.
He gritted his back teeth, filled with barely suppressed shame and anger.
"San is a designation! It is not my given name! We, the head butler candidates selected and meticulously trained by the family since childhood, have long abandoned our past names and are known only by the ancient designations we inherit!
I am the officially established, third-ranking Head Butler candidate of this generation of the Moon Shadow Family!"
He emphasized the word "third" almost through gritted teeth, as if doing so could wash away the embarrassment caused by the title and salvage some of his rapidly crumbling authority.
"Hmph," he forcefully steered the conversation back to the main topic, letting out a cold snort filled with complex meaning, his gaze falling back upon A Mi and Xiao Ye.
That look was a mixture of scrutiny, surprise, and a hint of admiration he was forced to acknowledge.
"I must admit, you two really do... have some skill and methods. I misjudged you before."
He paused, his tone becoming somewhat stiff and unnatural, his voice lowering slightly, as if every word burned his tongue: "I apologize for my previous... dismissive attitude, you need not... mind it."
These words, which were almost equivalent to an apology yet extremely clumsy and awkward, were squeezed out of him with difficulty. Although he still maintained his airs, they clearly indicated a substantive shift in his attitude.
Having spoken, he seemed unwilling to linger for another moment in this place that had caused him repeated loss of composure and damaged his reputation. He quickly raised his hand, placed two fingers to his lips, and blew a clear, piercing, long whistle.
As the whistle echoed through the woods, a faint, rapid rustling sound came from the shadows of the nearby trees.
Immediately following, several figures emerged like ghosts, moving in perfect unison and silently.
Besides two Servants wearing the Moon Shadow Family standard uniform, their faces hidden in the shadows of their hoods and silent as stone, each leading a magnificent Elf Horse of exceptional quality and pure coat color, the most conspicuous sight was the Carriage that appeared right behind them.
The exterior of this Carriage did not strive for extreme luxury, but every line and detail exuded the exquisite craftsmanship and restrained magical fluctuations characteristic of the Elf Race. The body seemed to be constructed from a special light-colored wood mixed with metal, engraved with complex and elegant Family Emblems and protective Runes.
The two horses pulling the carriage were even more extraordinary; their coats were smooth as satin, gleaming healthily in the sunlight, their eyes gentle yet intelligent, and their steps steady and light.
The Butler Xiao San didn't spare A Mi or Xiao Ye a glance, as if looking at them would only remind him of his earlier embarrassment. He walked straight toward the exclusive Carriage that proclaimed his status and position, where a silent Servant was already bowing by the door.
He elegantly smoothed his robes, which were slightly wrinkled from his emotional agitation, and his tone reverted to that condescending, commanding style, throwing out a final instruction:
"Prepare to depart. We need to reach the family's designated rendezvous point, and it will take some time on the road. Do not delay."
Before his words had fully faded, he was being attended by the Servant as he boarded the Carriage reserved for him, separated from the Servants and the "outsiders."
The door closed securely from the inside with a faint 'click' of the mechanism, completely isolating him from all outside views and potential conversation.
Left behind, A Mi and Xiao Ye could only look at each other in silence.
A silent Servant stepped forward and wordlessly handed the reins of one of the Elf Horses—which appeared relatively gentler and smaller—to A Mi, his movements mechanical and standard, without any extraneous expression or words.
A Mi looked at the Elf Horse, which, even being the "gentler" one, still towered over him, then looked down at the petite Xiao Ye beside him, who was looking up at the horse with a touch of helplessness, and smiled resignedly.
"Come on, Xiao Ye."
He supported Xiao Ye's slender waist, helping her climb somewhat clumsily and carefully onto the smooth saddle, positioning her in front, before he nimbly swung up, placing one hand on the saddle, and settled firmly behind her, gently taking hold of the reins.
"Hold tight, grip firmly," he murmured softly into Xiao Ye's ear, his voice gentle.
Xiao Ye nodded nervously. Her small body was stiff due to the unfamiliar height of the mount, and her hands instinctively gripped the pommel at the front of the saddle so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Ahead, following a low and clear sharp call from the coachman, the Butler Xiao San's exquisite Carriage started smoothly and silently, its wheels barely making a sound as they rolled over the ground.
Seeing this, A Mi gently nudged the horse's belly. The Elf Horse they were riding seemed to understand his intent... and immediately broke into a light yet steady pace, following the Carriage ahead without rushing.
Thus, from this moment, the two embarked on this journey toward an unknown future, carrying new hope and challenges.