Chapter 31: Hunting Qiyana

"I'm starting to sweat, Bayar. Please, don't make me sweat."

As soon as Qiyana finished speaking, the servant named Bayar became flustered.

He used the little control he had over the elements to concentrate his power and create a cloud of mist.

Within seconds, the mist enveloped Qiyana, gradually cooling the air around her and dispelling the heat from the jungle.

"Much better," Qiyana nodded noncommittally, "but her technique is as bad as ever, without any improvement whatsoever."

Upon hearing Qiyana's words, the servant's face was filled with unease and anxiety, which made Qiyana lose all interest in talking to him.

However, there was nothing she could do. As the tenth-ranked Alai, even if new servants were available, Qiyana wouldn't be the first to choose. Thinking about this, Qiyana felt somewhat annoyed.

However, Qiyana did not forget the important matter she needed to attend to today.

This is a message from the Yuntar family, which has been expelled and exiled.

Void creatures—while the Yontar of Ixtal don’t care much about them, Qiyana has always been interested in the world outside of Ixtal.

Or rather, they're interested in the act of ruling the outside world. Like now, with a void creature passing through the elemental green wall and entering Ixtal, Qiyana sees this as a good opportunity to test her incompetent sisters.

As for other news, such as the new Primordial Axioms... to be honest, Qiyana didn't take it to heart.

Similar novel studies occur every year in Ixokane—or rather, every Yuntar wants to create more primordial axioms.

However, in most cases, it is simply a matter of introducing new ideas based on existing axioms.

While it is true that one can become a Yuntar based on the degree of innovation that extends existing axioms and the contribution to those axioms.

But for a family that has committed treason, this is nothing short of wishful thinking... at most, it would only mean pardoning a few people.

As for discovering new axioms, Qiyana simply doesn't believe it.

After all, Ixtal's civilization, spanning over six thousand years, has only managed to summarize twenty axioms to date.

"I hope it doesn't get too boring."

A moment later, Qiyana arrived at the village, where Lupe was already there to greet her.

"Greetings, Chiana Ale," Lupe greeted, bowing slightly.

Qiyana didn't seem to care, simply waving her hand dismissively and saying, "No need for such formalities. I wasn't even born when you were banished."

Hearing Qiyana's blunt words, Lupe's lips twitched slightly, but she didn't say anything more, simply nodding and then saying:

"I have already made preparations regarding that void creature. However, before you view it, please have Tenth Alai move to the village."

Upon hearing the title "Tenth Alai," a hint of annoyance flashed in Qiyana's eyes, and Lupe quickly realized that she had misspoke, but could only manage a forced bitter smile—she was never good at managing people, otherwise, she wouldn't have only a handful of friends willing to speak up for her when her family was exiled.

Qiyana clearly had no intention of wasting time arguing with Lupe, and instead said, "I have absolutely no interest in any of your new axioms. Now, bring that void creature over here!"

"Don't be in such a hurry, Qiyana."

Before Lupe could say anything, Tarin arrived upon hearing the news, scrutinizing Qiyana's figure.

As the youngest princess of Ixtal, Kiana is quite young—twelve years younger than her elder sister. Even so, she remains a captivating Ixtal woman.

Qiyana's skin tone is similar to Nidalee's, but compared to Nidalee's honey color, Qiyana's skin has a slightly reddish-brown hue, revealing the healthy glow unique to rainforest dwellers.

A head of wavy, curly white hair fell over her shoulders, and her face was round with a girlish charm, but her pair of bright golden eyes broke this gentle innocence—the corners of her eyes were upturned, her gaze was sharp as a knife, and her olive green eye makeup made her look particularly flamboyant.

Her eyes were clear and bright, and her gaze was filled with undisguised arrogance and aggression, as if everything in the world should submit to her.

She wasn't particularly tall, at most a little over 1.6 meters, but she didn't have the slightest hint of frailty; instead, she possessed a powerful presence and a perfect proportion of feminine curves.

She had a slender waist, wide hips, and an astonishingly round and perky bottom. Her full and powerful thighs, accentuated by black pantyhose, presented an alluring pear shape.

Her shoulders were sharply defined, and her arm muscles were equally firm and fluid. Every gesture exuded both the elegance of a royal princess and an unmistakable pride.

Upon seeing Tarin, Qiyana's eyes narrowed slightly, and then a look of interest appeared on her lips.

"You... are you the hunter from the news who hunted the Void Beasts? Hmm, you do seem to be someone from outside Ixtal... I heard you're also a Shapeshifter? Show me your form."

Hearing Qiyana's condescending tone, Tarin didn't care. After all, Tarin already knew about Qiyana's problematic personality, so he was prepared for what she might say and wasn't too surprised.

Meeting Qiyana's gaze, Tarin simply chuckled and said unhurriedly:

"Moreover, I've heard that Princess Kiana is the most talented and strongest among all the Yuen'alai? I'm also curious about what kind of power the strongest princess of Ixtal possesses."

For a troubled girl like Qiyana, talking nicely is useless; a clean and decisive fight to make her realize the difference in strength is more effective than anything else.

When Qiyana first heard Tarin's words, she was quite pleased with being called the "strongest princess." But as Tarin became curious about the power she possessed, Qiyana immediately narrowed her eyes dangerously.

She grasped the Orethal ring blade beside her—a large, hula-hoop-like axiomatic arc.

Qiyana's face also revealed an undisguised pride and fighting spirit:

"Not bad, you've got guts... Hmm, very few people have the courage to speak to me like that, so I've decided, I'm going to make you my servant!"

As he spoke, a voice echoed in Tallinn's mind.

[Mission Name: Hunting Qiyana]

[Mission Description: Defeat Qiyana and make her admit defeat.]

[Mission Rewards: Mid-Tier Ecology Extraction Scroll x1, Hunting Points x500]

After glancing at the mission details, Tarin nodded inwardly—it's true that missions and rewards are calculated separately, but the fact that the mission popped up meant that this was also a hunt.

With double the reward, Tallinn perked up and continued:

"What if I win?"

Tarlin raised his chin and said, "If I lose, I'll become your servant. So, if the esteemed Yuen Alai loses, what will he do for a nameless hunter like me?"

Upon hearing this, Qiyana burst into laughter, then looked at Tarin with confidence and pride, a look of absolute certainty on her face: "I lost? What a joke! If you can beat me, I'll do anything! Because Qiyana will never lose!!"

"How arrogant." Hearing Qiyana's words, Tarin chuckled and said, "In that case, if you lose, you'll have to learn from me and help me summarize the axioms of life."

"The axioms of life? That's quite arrogant." Upon hearing this, Qiyana raised an eyebrow, then said with interest:

"Then let's give it a try... But don't worry, Qiyana will mercifully forgive your arrogance and grant you the opportunity to serve the great Qiyana!"

Upon hearing Qiyana's words, Tarin simply smiled and then drew the longsword that had just been forged from his back.

"Let's confirm first," Tallinn said. "Are you concerned about bleeding?"

"Of course not." Upon hearing this, Qiyana paused slightly, then raised her head like a proud swan, arching her graceful neck, and said, "I hope you have prepared the medicine to stop the bleeding!"

Upon hearing Qiyana's words, Tarin nodded and then said, "Don't worry, there's plenty of medicine."

As he spoke, Tarin gripped his katana with both hands, his aura deepened, and he instantly entered a battle stance.

Qiyana, who had been about to say something, suddenly felt the aura of the previously easygoing and carefree stranger become unusually somber, and even a strange chill ran through her. Behind the hands holding the knife, the eyes, though devoid of emotion, sent a genuine sense of dread through her.

This quickly cheered Qiyana up.

"Your Highness!" a servant beside him cried out in concern—as Qiyana's servants, they too would be punished if Qiyana were harmed.

Qiyana, unfazed, replied, "Stay away. Qiyana is going to show this outsider what the rules of Ixtal are!"

Although she felt a pressure from Tarin that she had never felt in Ishtar, she was, after all, the girl known as the "Elemental Queen" in the game. Even though everyone still sees her as a purely troubled girl, Qiyana still possesses some qualities that far exceed those of ordinary people.

These qualities are not merely a talent for elemental magic. They also represent an aggressiveness and invasiveness that are completely contrary to the ancient traditions of Ixtal over the past six thousand years.

"I love your aura right now!" Qiyana said, gripping her Oretar Ringblade tightly, her eyes filled with undisguised possessiveness.

"This is the first time anyone has dared to show me such fangs! But it's okay, I'll tame you into a docile kitten!"

As she spoke, Qiyana took a step forward. Although it looked light and airy, almost the instant she stepped out, a gust of wind surged around her.

Tallinn recognized it; this was the Ixtalites' application of the fifth axiom, the axiom of the wind.

During this time, Tarlin also learned about the general composition of the Twenty Primordial Axioms through Lupe.

Among the many techniques of the Fifth Axiom, the Axiom of Wind, there is one that uses the axiom to reduce the drag loss of a target in a medium, thereby amplifying the target's kinetic energy transfer efficiency and making movement and motion faster under the same force. Similarly, by simply increasing the amplitude and propagation distance, sound can be transmitted to a farther distance without attenuation or dispersion—those who use the Fifth Axiom are mostly messengers of Ixtal.

Although they are all the fifth postulate, even the same postulate can have drastically different effects depending on who applies it.

As she was now, amidst the raging wind, Qiyana's speed was astonishing. Her petite body instantly transformed into a blurry afterimage, its outline blurred by the wind, as she attacked Tarin. In the blink of an eye, her sharp ring blades were upon Tarin.

clang!

Before the onlookers could even see clearly, a burst of cold light suddenly erupted in front of Tarlin.

The seemingly heavy and excessively long katana felt weightless in Tarin's hands. Facing Qiyana's high-speed attack, he simply used the blade to deflect the ring blade with a flash of blood energy.

But Qiyana clearly did not give up her attack because of this, nor was she angry because her attack was thwarted.

On the contrary, Qiyana was inexplicably excited.

In Ishmael, people either revere her, fawn over her, or fear her. No one has ever dared to be as humble and arrogant as Tarlin, or even to bare their fangs at her.

Qiyana was delighted with the feeling of finally being valued.

Similarly, it also stirred up a strong desire in Qiyana's heart to defeat Tarin and make him submit to her completely!

"Come and serve Qiyana!!"

Qiyana's eyes revealed an undisguised possessiveness.

As he swung the ring blade in his hand, the originally flowing breeze was instantly covered by a thick, earthy yellow halo.

Although only different lights appeared, the ring blade, which was still being swung, seemed to become several times heavier in an instant, and a whistling hum echoed in the air as it was swung!

The sixteenth axiom, the axiom of rock, states that by interfering with the relationship between the earth element and the gravity of the earth's veins, weapons can be made heavier or lighter—or lighter in one's own hands but heavier on another!

Although Qiyana looked somewhat delicate, and the massive Orthal Ring Blade seemed rather light in her hand, when Tarin's katana actually touched the ring blade, Tarin immediately felt a tremendous force strike him.

Qiyana did not let go, but continued to rush forward, suppressing the towering Talin in front of her while constantly strengthening the gravity of the ley lines, intending to force the even taller Talin to lower his body and look up at her.

"How is it?" Qiyana asked, licking her lips as she continued to apply gravity. "Can you feel... the power of your future master?"

"not bad."

Hearing Qiyana's words, Tarin, who was in the middle of a struggle, wasn't angry. He just nodded and said, "Then I'll be a little more serious too."

"Um?!"