Lin Luo could not dismiss what Kuroi said lightly. Even setting aside her own intuition, there was also the even more troublesome Kagami Haruhi among the Hosts. Furthermore, Haruhi was pursuing the two pranksters from Hatsune—if those two were to get involved, it certainly wasn't something one could ignore.

After all, those two were at least Quasi-Heavenly Rank!

If they really decided to cause trouble, Youyou would surely not intervene. That left Mikoto as the only one capable of holding back a Quasi-Heavenly Rank expert. It would be fine if she succeeded in reaching the Heavenly Rank during her seclusion, but if she failed, she could, at best, only restrain one of Hatsune and Haruhi. Lin Luo couldn't place all his hopes on Mikoto; he needed to put a little more effort into his own side.

Thinking of this, a sense of urgency gripped Lin Luo. However, this wasn't something that could be achieved simply by trying hard. With the power he currently stored, an all-out burst would certainly put him at the peak of Earth Rank, but reaching Quasi-Heavenly Rank was still a considerable distance away. He absolutely had to reach that level!

Kuroi: "It's time. I can't let Hatsune stay ahead of me forever." Lin Luo: "It's time. I can't let Hatsune keep acting so arrogantly." After a moment of silence, the two spoke simultaneously. Lin Luo paused slightly, then chuckled, "It seems we have a good rapport. But this contract is a little different this time." "It doesn't matter. I've already decided what must be done," Kuroi closed her eyes slowly.

The blue flames vanished from his sight. Lin Luo understood her intent and, without hesitation, drew the girl into his embrace, pressing his lips to hers. In that instant, the power of the earth was drawn forth, and the sea roared in response. Yet, this tremor didn't feel dangerous; instead, it imparted a sense of solid stability.

"Heart Contract Initiated. Activating Covenant Mode. Current Host and Covenant Partner have achieved Companionship. Current Host obtains the Proof of Constraint: Primal World. Current Covenant Partner obtains the Proof of Constraint: Ring of Houtu." Host Lin Luo: Traveler (Lv3) Physical Strength: S Mental Strength: S Comprehensive Strength: Spirit Rank Peak Level Up Requirement: Five more Covenants to complete. Covenant Partner: Kuroi (Dead Master) Physical Strength: SS Mental Strength: S Comprehensive Strength: Earth Rank Mid-Tier Proof of Constraint: Ring of Houtu Mark of Protection: Berserker Squad Heart of the World: Heart of the Earth (No. 33, State: Immovable as a Mountain, Fused Heart)

"Are you two really going to fight?" The next morning, in the courtyard of the Sky City, Lin Luo looked rather exasperatedly at the expressionless Kuroi and the slightly excited Kinomoka.

Since Kuroi was a native of this world, Lin Luo didn't need to travel to another realm. After signing the contract, he returned to pamper his two newlywed wives. Then, after waking up and eating breakfast, Kuroi challenged Kinomoka under the guise of testing her newfound strength. Although Kinomoka wasn't overly fond of fighting, Setsuna felt a stirring of eagerness, so she happily accepted as well.

"Fine, if you want to spar, I won't object, but try to stay far away from the Sky City." Lin Luo didn't mind them fighting; it would be a good chance to gauge their strength. Given their current power levels, the Sky City likely couldn't withstand their attacks.

"To the Black Sea," Kuroi nodded. As the words left her mouth, she soared into the distance. Setsuna and Kinomoka followed without hesitation.

The Black Sea was Kuroi's usual training ground; she was undoubtedly familiar with it. Logically, this should be her home turf, but the reality was different, as Kinomoka's attribute was Water... While the Black Sea benefited Kuroi, it could simultaneously be considered Kinomoka's domain as well.

In terms of heavenly timing and earthly advantage, the two were closely matched, but in terms of manpower, Kinomoka and Setsuna were two against one. Lin Luo wasn't overly optimistic about Kuroi's chances. However, then again, Kuroi hadn't unleashed her Mark of Protection yet, so it was hard to jump to conclusions.

What exactly was that Berserker Squad? It truly invited wild speculation.

"Ready? Let's begin then." Kuroi stood upon the water's surface, her longsword already drawn, calmly facing her two opponents.

Kinomoka let out a light laugh, her white robes fluttering as two folding fans suddenly appeared in her hands... These were her magic tools, the "East Wind Cypress Fan" and the "South Wind Reed Fan." Originally the tools of her attendant, the fans were now materialized manifestations of her own abilities.

"Little Setsu!" Kinomoka swept her twin fans, issuing a command.

"Yes, Mistress!" Setsuna's expression turned serious. As she spoke, she shot forward, her white wings unfurling with a whoosh, revealing her ultimate form.

"Thunder God Sword!" In an instant, Setsuna was above Kuroi, showing no mercy, launching her terrifying ultimate move as the first strike. Savage lightning gathered at her blade tip, coalescing into a massive orb that pressed down upon Kuroi’s head. The crackling, spitting sound was like the descent of a thunder god.

Before the ball of light even landed, the sea surface began to roar and evaporate, testifying to its terror.

Kuroi remained expressionless, but her heart grew heavy. She dared not be careless against such a massive technique, especially since they were over the ocean. Setsuna's attack looked simple, but it seamlessly integrated the advantages of the location. Whether she blocked or retreated, an endless barrage of massive attacks awaited her next.

"Immovable as a Mountain!" Kuroi let out a sharp shout, raising her right hand. A colossal mountain seal, visible to the naked eye, suddenly manifested before her. The sphere of lightning collided with the mountain seal and failed to break through, extinguishing in a flash.

Setsuna was astonished by Kuroi's defensive capability but remained undaunted, her katana slashing diagonally with lightning speed.

"Demon-Slaying Sword, Second Style!" The current Setsuna was far beyond her former self. Unleashing the Demon-Slaying Sword, her might surpassed even Konoe Eishun, and perhaps even Lin Luo would be inferior to this strike. The blade cut down, its sharp light cleaving the void, and even Kuroi's Immovable as a Mountain seal showed a hairline crack.

"Flicker!" But Kuroi didn't retreat; she advanced. The instant the Immovable as a Mountain seal shattered, she seized that brief opening and lunged straight at Setsuna. The speed, like lightning flashing across flint, startled Setsuna, who desperately tried to parry but was too late—the razor-sharp sword light was already upon her.

"Water Binding!" However, Kuroi's attack did not succeed because her target wasn't just Setsuna. At the critical juncture, Kinomoka used Water Wave to tightly bind Kuroi.

The dignified Mid-Tier Earth Rank master found herself unable to move under this restraint. But Setsuna knew this moment would only last an instant. After all, Kuroi's attribute was Earth, and Kinomoka’s was Water. Due to the principle of mutual overcoming between elements, in theory, Earth should counter Water.

Knowing the opportunity must not be wasted, Setsuna immediately retreated swiftly, her katana carving a breathtaking arc.

"Secret Sword, Hundred Flowers Rippling!" In an instant, myriad colorful sword shadows exploded like fireworks, hundreds of light blades slashing toward Kuroi.

But when those light blades struck Kuroi’s body, it was like a kitchen knife hitting hardened steel. With a clamor of ding-ding-clang, not only was Kuroi unharmed, but countless sparks flew out.

"This woman's body is truly resilient. Ordinary attacks won't work, it seems." Seeing this, Setsuna, though surprised, wasn't taken aback. Those whose physical strength reached S rank or above were generally beings with near-immortality or astonishing defensive capabilities. Kuroi’s dual S physical strength clearly meant she couldn't be pierced easily, especially since she had charged through Setsuna's Second Style slash earlier.

"Little Setsu!" As thoughts raced through her mind, Setsuna suddenly saw a hand signal from Kinomoka. Instantly, a surge of water power began to rotate continuously within her body. Understanding dawned, and she smiled, "With this, I'll be like a tiger with wings." Setsuna raised her katana, preparing to attack again, but just then...

"Heavy Armament Assembly!" Kuroi suddenly roared, her body swelling instantaneously, shattering Kinomoka's Water Binding. What expanded wasn't her body, but a layer of pitch-black armor surrounding her. Her left hand held a massive blade, and the small sword in her right hand had transformed into a greatsword far exceeding her height.

This was Berserk Kuroi, yet it felt different. Lin Luo knew that in her berserk state, Kuroi’s eyes would turn purple, radiating fierce light and losing rationality. But at this moment, although Kuroi possessed the gear of a berserker, everything else about her remained unchanged; her clear gaze showed no hint of madness.

It seemed she could now control the berserk state freely.

"Little Setsu, be careful," Kinomoka put away some of her relaxed demeanor upon seeing Kuroi assume this posture.

No reminder was necessary; Setsuna knew the Kuroi before her was extremely difficult to handle. However, she felt little fear; what dominated was excitement. The stronger the opponent, the more interesting the fight would be.

"Hah!" Kuroi, now in her berserk state, launched increasingly fierce attacks. She completely abandoned her defense, bringing the heavy sword down in a chopping motion. With a deafening boom, the monstrous sword aura sliced the Black Sea in two. The separated seawater surged upward, shooting straight toward the heavens.

Setsuna bore the brunt of the pressure, but with the support of water power, she wasn't completely overwhelmed. Her figure darted forward like a shooting star, meeting Kuroi's cleave head-on with a direct clash.

"My Ultimate Art: Setsuna!" A single sword stroke tore through the heavens and earth, and amidst the violent impact, Kuroi's greatsword was actually blocked by her!

Lin Luo, with a sharp eye, could tell that Setsuna had executed a consecutive combo with that one strike.

If Kuroi relied on brute force to suppress, then Setsuna was winning through sheer technique.

Immediately following this, the two engaged in a fierce battle in the sky. A clash between two Mid-Tier Earth Rank powerhouses was nothing short of earth-shattering; even the Sky City, a hundred miles away, was alerted.

However, Kuroi was ultimately alone, facing the pincer attack of Kinomoka and Setsuna, and she gradually found herself at a disadvantage. Although Kinomoka’s direct combat ability wasn't remarkable, her various defensive and support skills were terrifyingly potent. With her present, Setsuna never had to worry about running out of energy.

"To keep this battle going, I must also give it my all..." Forced back by Setsuna's sword strike, Kuroi suddenly stopped in mid-air, pointing her greatsword toward the sky. "I apologize; now I will be using superior numbers... Summon! Berserker Squad!"