I JUST WANT A PEACEFUL LIFE

Before the Duchess was thrown away, she managed to counterattack and graze King Leon's armor. If King Leon didn't pull his body at the last moment, she would definitely injure King Leon.

'What an outrageous speed!! She is faster than before and still didn't use any movement skill.' thought King Leon while becoming more vigilant and serious.

Feeling his life on the line, King Leon subconsciously releases a tremendous amount of mana towards the surrounding. If they are not in this dark space, the whole area will probably shake like they are afraid of the King's might.

Seeing King Leon's serious face, Duchess Ambeblaze begins to smile and cover her entire body with fire [Fire Assault]. Unlike before, she becomes faster and instantly reaches King Leon's place.

Still, King Leon managed to react to her attack and decided to launch his own attack using his sword. Just as the two blades almost touch each other, the sword disappears at the same time.

Seeing King Leon's sword disappear like hers, "W-Why?" asked the Duchess in surprise.

At the last moment, they recalled their sword back and made it disappear. Since both of the weapons are artifact grade and they fully master it, they could recall and call their weapon at any time.

The Duchess plans to let King Leon hit her body. But, she didn't think the other party also recalled his sword at the exact moment as her. Because of her expertise in swords, she knows that moment is the most difficult moment to take back the attack or change its trajectory.

In other words, like the Duchess, King Leon also plans to recall his weapon and let her hit him from the start. King Leon didn't answer the Duchess's question and looked at her amber eyes before touching her lower cheek using his hand.

Instantly, their body moves on their own like it is already ingrained into their body. They come closer and share soft passionate kisses. They feel like the entire world is stopped while touching each other's lips.

Just from this kiss, they know they want each other. They carve and long for each other. They feel in Heaven and released from all the pain they held for years. Suddenly, the Duchess realizes what they are doing and breaks their kiss.

"N-No.. This is a mistake!! I.. You.. This.. This is supposed never to happen." said the Duchess, panicking before backing away to run.

Before she could run, King Leon grabbed her and held her in his arms tightly from behind.

"Leon, stop!! We can't do this!!" said Extalia while struggling to break free.

"I am not going to let you go." replied Leon resolutely.

"Please.. We can't. Just release me and forget about me." begged Extalia while tearing up.

Leon didn't reply and kept Extalia under his arm silently while trying to calm her down. After a while of struggling, Extalia finally gives up and lets her body be held by Leon. Deep down, she also wants to keep being held by Leon like this.

Seeing Extalia finally calm down, Leon begins to caress her body and touch all the scars on her body through her clothes.

Extalia noticed Leon's doing, but she didn't fight back and let him touch her body. She even enjoys Leon's touch, which makes her remember when she got this scar in the first place.

Most of the scar on her body happens because of the King, who is currently touching her body like she is some sort of delicate priceless artifact. Time passed by as Leon kept touching her scar over and over again. Leon feels the scars reminding them about their experience and story.

After what felt like hours, "Leon.. I will try to tackle it." said Extalia in a low voice.

Hearing this, Leon stops his hand movement.

"Y-You don't mean.." replied Leon.

"Yeah, I am going to try to make a breakthrough." said Extalia.

"NO!!" yelled Leon.

"You don't have any say in this. I will do it whether you like it or not." said Extalia stubbornly.

"Then, I will stop you. I will never let you do it." replied Leon.

After getting a silent response from Extalia, "Please.. Lia. Don't do it. I am begging you." begged Leon.

Hearing the man begging at her makes Extalia surprised. She knows how prideful and stubborn Leon is. Yet, he cast all of his pride, honor, and title to beg for her to stop. Knowing this, she couldn't help but feel happy from the deepest part of her heart.

Shaking her head, "Why? If I become a seventh-grade combatant, our kingdom will become stronger. No one could oppose us again." asked Extalia.

"Because it is suicide!!" said Leon.

"Bullshit!! You and Jade can make a breakthrough. Why can't I? Are you looking down on me?!!" asked Extalia.

"No, Lia... You are strong and I believe you are the strongest woman I have ever known. But, this is a different matter." said Leon.

"What's the difference? I am quite talented like all of you and those other seventh-grade kings. Hell, I am more talented than you." said Extalia.

"I.. I agree with that. But, you could never reach seventh grade alone." said Leon.

Hearing Leon's blunt confession makes Extalia don't know what to say.

"You need a powerful external influence. We seventh-grade combatants, be it me, Jade, or other kings, need an unnatural phenomenon to help us breakthrough." explained Leon.

"In my case, it is because of the mana explosion on the battlefield. As for Jade, he got hit by the shockwave of a strong attack. Without any powerful external occurrence, it will be nothing but suicide." added Leon.

"B-But… I don't want you to keep feeling guilty. Leon, you should be much stronger than this. Yet, your power is stagnant after you reach seventh grade. You could barely keep up with me after I used [Fire Assault]. I know something is holding you back and it is me."

"Deep down, you still regret taking that blessing despite me telling you that you should be the one that has it." said Extalia.

"No.. You are wrong." said Leon.

"How am I wrong?" asked Extalia.

"Certainly, the blessing of Fate gives me more chances to reach seventh grade. After I breakthrough and reached seventh grade, I knew it only affected a tiny part during the breakthrough." explained Leon.

"It could be said whether I have it or not, it didn't affect me much. Though it is also true that I still feel guilty and indebted to you for taking the blessing. But, that's not why I am not growing stronger." added Leon.

"Then, what is it?" asked Extalia.

"I.. I also don't know." replied Leon.

"You don't know? Leon…" said Extalia.

"I really don't know, Lia. I don't know why my combat power seems stagnant and even deteriorated these last decade." said Leon.

Hearing this, Extalia and Leon become silent while Leon keeps embracing Extalia, afraid that she will disappear if he loosens up his embrace.

"Did Jade know your condition?" asked Extalia.

"Yeah." replied Leon.

"Then, what did he say?" asked Extalia again.

"He.. Forget it. It's not important. Just don't try to break…" said Leon.

"Leon!! Tell me what Jade said." said Extalia while cutting Leon's words.

"It's not impor.." said Leon.

Suddenly, Extalia breaks from Leon's embrace and turns around towards Leon. Then, she grabs Leon's head using her two hands and brings it closer to her face.

"Tell me what Jade said!!" said Extalia in a commanding tone.

Looking directly at her earnest amber eyes, "H-He said that it probably has something to do with you." said Leon.

Hearing such an unexpected answer, Extalia was surprised and released Leon's head.

Seeing the silent Extalia, "Lia, don't worry about it. My condition definitely has nothing to do with you. You don't need to think much about it. So, please don't try to breakthrough." said Leon.

"Last decade.. It's the last time we talk, right? Leon… I am sorry." said Extalia.

"Lia, you don't need to be sorry. It's not your fault." said Leon.

"No, it's mine. I should never push you out and blame you. I should keep staying by your side. You hurt so much… because of me." said Extalia while trailing her hand on Leon's chest through his armor.

Seeing Extalia blame herself, Leon immediately hugged her. Leon himself is also not stupid and dense. He also knows what Jade means and it is true. To reach his full capability and beyond, Leon needs to become his true self, showing his love to Extalia without any regret.

However, because of some circumstances and their relationship in these past years, Leon couldn't get close to Extalia even if he wanted to. In the first place, they will never realize they are still deeply in love with each other if they are not inside this dark space alone.

"The sharpest wind could cut and divide anything. The strongest lightning could destroy the hardest material. The endless water could flood the whole world. The mighty earth could devour anything. But, all of them will never extinguish the fire…" said Leon.

"As they are in our hearts." continued Extalia while placing her forehead to Leon.

"What a childish and unrealistic poem." added Extalia with a smile.

"Well, sorry about that. I was still thirteen years old when creating it." said Leon.

"I know.. And you try to get my first kiss through that." said Extalia with a smile.