Chapter 166: Cat
At this moment, Carlotta and Amelia wore their appearances under the Illusion Masks, both were blue-haired girls. They intended to keep using this identity, so they used the Illusion Masks to transform into golden-haired girls, the same appearance they had in Bor City, and also the one they wore when they killed Shepherd.
This identity can be discarded after use.
"I’ll handle this alone. Amelia, hide in the shadows and cover me."
Carlotta already had a plan.
They silently approached the area where Melissa was supposed to stage her mock battle. Then, hidden by others, Carlotta consumed a Transformation Potion and turned into a cat.
It was a golden tabby cat, a transformation potion derived from Stellar Workshop. In Swanport’s shops, there weren’t any potions for turning into golden tabby cats, making it easier for others to believe it was just an ordinary cat.
After transforming, Carlotta’s vision changed slightly, but she quickly adapted, then moved toward the crowd.
The location was by the seaside.
At this moment, many people had already gathered in a large circle, watching the two figures in the center with curious, skeptical, or probing gazes.
The battle had already begun.
Melissa Harris, as a Card Magic practitioner, now activated a flight spell, causing a pair of eagle-like wings to emerge from her back. In truth, these were the wings of a magical creature, not particularly slow in speed.
As the wings flapped, waves of light shot forward from in front of her, these were cards called "Lightwave Cards." Carlotta looked up and noticed the materials used in these cards were quite good, making them mid-tier cards.
Melissa’s opponent was a middle-aged man wielding dual hammers. He followed the Knight path, flying through the air, but in Carlotta’s eyes, he flew too slowly, always failing to catch up with Melissa, only able to swing his hammers to block her various attacks.
’Even though I know it’s fake, this is just... too fake.’
Carlotta couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
She averted her gaze, no longer watching this duel, it was truly painful to look at.
Her eyes quickly scanned the crowd. Soon, she spotted Alistair, Helen, and Pedro.
All three came from prestigious backgrounds and were proud by nature. Even among the crowd, they refused to squeeze in with others. Added to the rumors of them killing someone in broad daylight without consequence, no one dared to approach them. An empty space surrounds the trio, making them stand out conspicuously.
Carlotta quietly moved closer.
"Meow!"
A tiny golden tabby slipped into the gap.
Helen glanced at the cat beside her and irritably said, "Where did this stinky stray come from? Scram, scram!"
She rudely raised her foot to kick, even though the golden tabby hadn’t done anything to him. She simply saw it and wanted to kick it away, violence was ingrained in her nature.
Helen was Carlotta’s first target, because she practiced Dream Magic. Although not necessarily strong in offensive power, Dream Magic had an exceptional ability to restrain opponents.
In contrast, Alistair and Pedro practiced Eagle Knight Path, direct combat styles that were easier to deal with.
As the foot came closer, Carlotta decisively activated the magic power within her, causing the transformation state to vanish instantly. To onlookers, it was as if their eyes flickered, and the golden tabby suddenly became a golden-haired girl.
This was Carlotta’s disguised form. She didn’t use the Rose Cross, instead wielding a backup artifact-level longsword. The blade shimmered with a bluish glow, as if waves were condensed within.
This sword was called Blue Sea.
Immediately upon appearing, Carlotta unleashed the Elven Symphony. Brilliant swordlight erupted, instantly engulfing Helen.
It all happened too suddenly, within a mere instant, Helen’s foot hadn’t even reached Carlotta before her swordlight descendants.
"Shhlick!"
A tearing sound came. Carlotta’s sword fell, forcibly splitting Helen’s body into two halves. On both sides of Blue Sea’s blade, the reflection of Helen’s final astonished expression was clearly visible.
Then, darkness filled his vision, as he sank into eternal oblivion.
"You’re asking for death!"
Alistair and Pedro realized something was wrong only after it was too late. The aura from their bodies suddenly exploded outward. They stared at Carlotta, outrage and fury beyond words.
How could Helen be killed right beside them?
The surrounding onlookers also struggled to react, instinctively turning to look, their eyes filled with shock.
"Dare to kill a member of the Carlisle family? You’re courting death!"
"Die!"
Both Alistair and Pedro attacked, unleashing Eagle Knight path. Silhouettes of eagles flashed behind them, then they charged forward at astonishing speed.
Carlotta had already slipped into the crowd. She didn’t want to harm the innocent, and only the open area reserved for Melissa’s staged fight offered enough space, so she had no choice but to come here.
At this moment, Melissa and her sparring partner also felt something was wrong.
Seeing Carlotta arrive, followed by two murderous-looking Resonators charging in, they froze for a moment, then turned and fled.
"What’s going on?"
As she withdrew, Melissa was still bewildered.
Carlotta, now outside the battle arena, has already begun casting Elven Rhapsody. A series of frenzied melodies surfaced in her senses, enhancing every aspect of her physical abilities.
Earlier, when killing Helen, she hadn’t used Elven Rhapsody, Elven Symphony alone had sufficed.
But now, she had to give it her all.
Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, she turned around, revealing the rolling magical aura of a peak tier Listener.
Since she will discard this identity afterwards, she deactivated the use of her Concealer Ring.
"So it’s you three who dared kill in broad daylight and cut down my subordinates? You truly don’t know the meaning of fear."
Carlotta gave a justification for her actions.
Then she struck fiercely, rushing toward the two men, swinging her Blue Sea longsword, quickly clashing with them. In a short time, the area was filled with millions of sounds of impact.
This scene shocked the onlookers into retreating, none expecting such a sudden turn of events.
"This person... is she also a peak tier Listener? Who is she? To fight both early tier and middle tier Resonator simultaneously without being at a disadvantage, that’s terrifying! Could this be a staged fight?"
"Seriously, how could you think it’s staged? This is clear revenge! An early tier Resonator just died beside them, would anyone stage a fight actually kill a Resonator?"
"Exactly. And their battle... It’s so intense. Every attack is meant to kill. When Melissa fought her opponent earlier, it never felt like a life-or-death duel."
Many people cried out in shock and awe, because the battle between Carlotta, Alistair, and Pedro was truly an intense, pure life-or-death fight. Everyone could feel the deadly atmosphere; it was nothing like Melissa’s previous staged fight.
Even Melissa herself felt this, swallowing hard in silence.
’Is this person also a peak tier listener like me? But how can she be this strong? That doesn’t make sense!’
Melissa was secretly stunned. She felt that if she were to step in, she wouldn’t even be able to withstand a single move.
"Who exactly is this person?"
Many people shouted, their eyes fixed on Carlotta filled with disbelief.
Earlier, the news that Melissa would fight an early tier Resonator had already drawn a large crowd. But now, Carlotta wasn’t just fighting one early tier Resonator, she was battling a middle tier Resonator as well.
Battle card art unfolded. Carlotta drew a flight card, and elven wings emerged behind her back as she soared into the sky, fiercely clashing with the two opponents.
She didn’t care if her techniques were seen. After this fight, she wouldn’t appear in this form again.
At this moment, Carlotta was even planning to cause a major disturbance.
She could have repeatedly used Elven Symphony to quickly end this battle. She knew exactly how terrifying it would be when an ultimate ability became a basic attack.
But she didn’t do that. She wanted to draw in more people, not just those from the Carlisle family.
For example, the people from Farrell Kingdom who had issued a bounty on her!
Indeed, shortly after the battle began, people from Farrell Kingdom’s military camp heard the news and rushed over. They had already arrived at the outer perimeter.
The massive commotion also caused people from other parts of Swanport to quickly converge here.
"What’s going on? Wasn’t it supposed to be Melissa fighting someone? Why is it a different person?"
Newcomers were confused.
But their questions were soon answered. A vendetta had provoked, forcing Melissa to withdraw.
The current fighter was a noble from the Wendell Empire and a mysterious girl whose identity was unknown.
"This person, from any perspective, is far, far stronger than Melissa. Even a middle tier Resonator can’t defeat her!"
"Who is she? Why have I never heard of a famous figure with this appearance?"
"Now that I think about it, why does her fighting style feel so familiar? It seems she specializes in the Elven Knight path, while secondarily studying card magic. But even her secondary skill in card magic has reached the point where she can create flight cards? Truly impressive."
"Wait... could this person be... could she be Moon?"
Swanport was crowded; many people here had even participated in Sky Island.
Among them were those who had seen from afar Carlotta’s final showdown with Rolf. That scene, under the crimson moon, where Carlotta delivered the killing blow to Rolf high in the air, had left a deep impression on many.
At this moment, one person recognized her fighting techniques and their pupils rapidly accelerated.
"That’s right, she’s Moon! Even though her appearance has changed, this must be due to alchemical artifacts. Her techniques are still the same, and such overwhelming combat power... this is definitely Moon."
"Besides, the rumors did say that Moon’s rank isn’t high, just a Listener, but she’s incredibly strong, capable of killing Resonators... It all matches up. Everything fits."
More than one person recognized Carlotta.
When such exclamations spread, the entire Swanport erupted. Countless people gasped in shock, staring in awe at the girl fighting in the sky.
This was Moon, the number one contender from Sky Island who obtained the Stellar Workshop, a mysterious girl?
No one had expected this girl, already famous across the Northern Continent, to appear before the world in such a manner.
"What? Moon is really just a Listener?"
Zorn Wilson, a vampire Resonator, stared at Carlotta in shock from the crowd. He had never imagined that Moon, who took first place, was truly only a Listener. When he first heard the news, he had scoffed, thinking Moon must have been some super powerful expert.
But the voices around him now make him realize his previous judgment was wrong. And he, a proud middle tier Resonator, had only ranked sixth.
"This is the Moon?"
Portland and others from Farrell Kingdom had already arrived. Upon hearing the news spreading around, the group’s expressions instantly changed.
"A peak tier Listener at this level of strength... truly impressive. Yon, do you have confidence in facing her?"
Portland asked the person beside him.
The Shephard family also had a notable figure named Yon Shephard, a peak tier Listener who followed the knight’s path.
Upon hearing this, Yon’s face instantly changed. Although he didn’t want to admit it, he had to acknowledge that he truly wouldn’t stand a chance against Carlotta.
Portland smiled, "It’s alright. You step back and watch carefully. The Stellar Workshop belongs to our Shephard family and the Farrell Kingdom!"
Immediately after, he gave a few orders and flew over with many Farrell Kingdom Resonators, determined to seize the Stellar Workshop.
The three fighters in the middle of battle naturally heard the surrounding exclamations.
Alistair and Pedro were both shaken. They never expected the person they were fighting was the legendary Moon. No wonder she was absurdly powerful, able to fight both of them simultaneously without falling behind.
"Still, her journey ends here."
Alistair murmured softly.
He saw the arrival of the Farrell Kingdom’s forces. With combined strength, even if Moon were stronger, she absolutely wouldn’t last long.
Carlotta listened to the surrounding discussions without surprise. She had long expected her identity as Moon might be exposed, but she didn’t care.
Because she knew, when ultimate abilities became basic attacks, no one in the entire Swanport could match her, not even peak tier Resonators.
"So they’ve finally come."
Carlotta smiled.
Five people from Farrell Kingdom flew over, including two peak tier Resonators. Among them, Portland Shephard himself was a peak tier Resonator.
This formation was extremely powerful. But as so many people appeared, the surrounding onlookers couldn’t help but sigh, feeling that this legendary Moon, filled with mythical color, was probably reaching her end. It seemed impossible for her, at the rank of Listener, to fight against so many opponents.
Only a few people showed confusion.
Because they noticed, Moon was smiling!
Elven Symphony!
Carlotta no longer held back. She unleashed her ultimate ability, releasing an extremely dazzling light. In an instant, Pedro in front of her was cut in half midair, blood spraying across the sky, the scene gruesomely.
"Urrrrgh...!"
Pedro screamed in agony, immediately plummeting to the ground, dead on the spot.