Chapter 1127: Nefarious Thoughts

Asher reappeared within the Wargrave Estate. He shook his head as a small chuckle escaped his lips. People weren’t as arrogant and careless as various Webnovel authors made them out to be. The five of them unleashed one attack each, then immediately fled in five different directions so he wouldn’t kill off all of them one by one.

’I guess there is nothing else to do,’ he thought to himself as he shook his head.

It was already 3 p.m. He felt like going to the Star Academy to find Finch, William, Ryaen, and Vaelric, but he suspected they were either in class, training, or on a mission. After all, till now, none of the four had replied to any of the texts he sent earlier.

As Asher was about to walk towards the window and look outside, he suddenly paused mid-motion as he felt something call out to him. It wasn’t anything mysterious; it was the Mark he had placed on the dagger and given to Arianna.

He had told Arianna that anytime she needed him, she could infuse the dagger with Astra energy and he would be there. Although Asher had never told anyone this, the Mark indeed had such features. If anyone who knew of the Mark infused it with Astra energy, they could call out to him.

Arianna hadn’t infused Astra energy into the Mark specifically, as even she couldn’t see the Mark, but into the dagger.

Getting the call, Asher immediately answered. He stood still for a second, then vanished from where he stood in a dim flash of purple.

The next moment, he appeared on the flat surface at the top of what appeared to be a jagged pillar, his dagger on the ground. All around him were the same kind of jagged pillars, each stretching at least five meters tall, while dunes of sand decorated the other areas.

The next moment, Asher’s Spatial Senses picked up an invisible fist attack coming from behind. He didn’t retaliate; he simply bent forward and dodged, his body free-falling from the tall jagged pillar. As he fell, he turned around, his purple eyes fixing on Arianna, who had appeared at his spot.

She had been invisible, waiting for him to appear, just so she could land a surprise attack. It wasn’t exactly an attack, as even if she landed it, Asher’s body could tank it. It was like a pillow attack that did zero damage, but was fun.

As he fell, Asher flashed her a smile. He had sensed her right from the moment he appeared here. With his Spatial Sense skill being passive, it was almost impossible to sneak up on him. He shifted midair and landed on his feet with his arms crossed against his chest as he spoke.

"Is that how to welcome a friend?" His tone was calm as he raised a brow.

Arianna gave a smirk, then dropped from the top of the jagged pillar as she spoke, "A friend doesn’t go radio silent for eight months, you know. If not for the double-tick feature of the messaging app, I would have thought you blocked me," she joked as she landed like an agile cat.

Asher wouldn’t deny it; Arianna remained as beautiful as ever. It was as though standing under the sun made her even more beautiful and made her skin glow.

"Maybe I should have just blocked you," Asher replied with a joking tone.

Arianna shook her head as Asher’s dagger appeared in her hand, then vanished into her space ring. She walked towards him as she spoke, asking a direct question.

"So, what kind of crazy training kept you locked away for eight months?" she stated, not trying to beat around the bush.

As she approached, the both of them started walking together within the rocky desert plain as Asher replied.

"You’re asking as though I’m the only one training," he shook his head as he answered, "from the timestamp of the message you sent, I’m guessing you stayed in training for about six months or so."

Arianna didn’t deny it. She had indeed been in training that much, so she simply nodded her head, as she had been in training for almost seven months. As for the time difference between her training time and Asher’s, she had spent that time being paraded as a mascot to the Velkarin Empire, as she had said in her text.

"Seems there are some tangible gains," Asher spoke as he flashed her a smile.

Arianna smirked as she replied, "Of course there are. I’ve broken through to the Flare sub-Life Rank of the Wavestar Life Rank, and also made certain progress in other areas," she stated confidently, then turned towards him and asked, "What about you?"

Asher shook his head in a defeated manner as he spoke, "As I said in my text yesterday, no need for a spar if we meet. You will definitely win, as unlike you, I’ve only broken through a single sub-Life, while you made two breakthroughs," he stated in an exasperated tone.

Arianna couldn’t help but roll her eyes at Asher’s words. They had fought at the Inter-Empire Tournament; she was almost an entire Major Rank above him, yet he had won. If someone heard what he said, they would think he was the weaker one.

"As if Life Rank determines the combat prowess of people like us," she stated, then said nothing more about Asher’s shameless statement.

Asher simply smiled and decided to change the topic.

"So, why did you call me to this shady place and not your room? Do you plan on killing me and hiding my corpse?" he asked.

"The earlier you delete any nefarious thoughts of going to my room from your mind, the better for you and your imagination," Arianna replied without a change in expression.

Asher gave a smile, not saying anything else. He was only joking about heading to her room. Just a harmless joke.

"As I said in my text two months ago, I simply called you here for a spar, nothing else," Arianna continued as she walked.

Asher sighed as his purple hair danced to the desert wind. "Later, women would complain that men are only using them for their bodies. Look at you now; you are trying to use me right now," he complained.

Arianna stayed silent for a moment, then looked in another direction as she replied, "I don’t know what you mean. I only want a hand-to-hand spar, nothing else."

Asher’s purple eyes stayed on her as he replied, "Just say you want to spar with me so you can steal all the progress I made, hence reducing your own training time."

Arianna remained silent, neither agreeing nor denying it.

Asher smiled, then said nothing else. He was joking anyway, as he knew Arianna wasn’t that type of person. She was the type of woman and person who took pride in the strength she gained through her own hands.

He already guessed that this woman probably called him to test their hand-to-hand combat and see who was better since they didn’t have to dive into a full fight.

"I will agree if you pay me for it," he stated as he looked ahead while he walked.