This was Doni's ultimate Authority, one he had usurped from the Celtic god Nuada—a terrifying yet deceptively simple power.
The Magic Sword could cleave through more than just physical objects. It effortlessly sliced through intangible substances like gases, liquids, and spirits, and could even sever the protagonist's Word Spirit Blade.
Furthermore, it possessed magical properties that made wounds difficult to heal, causing them to burn or even explode.
Doni, his gaze burning with fervor, glided toward Phoenix, the Magic Sword in his grasp. His movements appeared effortless, yet each step covered over a dozen meters, reminiscent of the Daoist technique of shrinking earth into inches.
In mere seconds, the King of Swords stood before Phoenix and unleashed an unceremonious slash with the Magic Sword.
Just as the blade was about to strike, a golden Great Sword intercepted it—the Xuanyuan Sword!
Phoenix effortlessly parried Doni's attack with the Xuanyuan Sword. Though the Magic Sword could sever countless things, the Xuanyuan Sword, a Transcendent Divine Armament surpassing even Divine Artifacts, a composite of multiple divine keys and the authority of a Campione, was beyond its reach.
"Impressive! You blocked my attack so effortlessly. But... this is exactly what I was hoping for! Seventh Campione, let's have a passionate battle!"
Far from being disappointed that Phoenix had blocked his strike, Doni was even more exhilarated.
"Since you fight with a sword, I'll meet you on your own terms."
Doni possessed extraordinary swordsmanship talent, but his aptitude for magic was virtually nonexistent. Before becoming a Campione, his body couldn't store Cursed Power. He had trained in swordsmanship under Saint Raphael, Reinhardt's original master, and mastered his techniques in just one month.
Knowing that Doni's greatest strength lay in swordsmanship, Phoenix delighted in defeating her opponents using their own strengths against them, as she had previously done by defeating Luo Hao with martial arts.
"Lord of Weapons! Grant me the Authority to command all the world's arms!"
As the Spirit Speech resonated, Phoenix grasped the Xuanyuan Sword. In that instant, she transformed into a Greatsword Grandmaster, gaining instant access to countless lifetimes of swordsmanship experience and perfectly mastering the art. She even felt a surge of confidence that she could rival Himeko herself!
"Come on, Doni!"
Phoenix gripped the Xuanyuan Sword and unleashed a flawless Greatsword technique, slashing at him with all her might.
Earlier, during her battle with Chiyou, she had only been able to wield ten percent of the Xuanyuan Sword's power. Now, she commanded over seventy percent. Even the Xuanyuan Sword itself seemed more willing to cooperate with her, abandoning its previous rigidity.
Doni met Phoenix's strike with equal ferocity. Their swords clashed in a relentless dance, tearing the isolated island apart piece by piece.
Despite her lack of formal swordsmanship training, the Lord of Arms Authority she had inherited from Chiyou granted her sword skills rivaling Doni's.
As the commander of the Italian forces from Southern Europe approached the island, he witnessed only a blinding spectacle of sword light and shadow flashing across the landscape. Residual sword qi ravaged the land, causing it to slowly sink into the sea. Before long, this once substantial landmass would vanish completely.
Witnessing this devastation, the Italian commander couldn't help but feel a surge of relief. If these two Campiones had waged such a battle in Milan, the city might have been doomed.
"The King's swordsmanship is truly formidable... It seems to rival even the King of Swords."
Deanna, commander of the Bronze Black Cross, watched the distant battle between the two Campiones, astonished by Phoenix's extraordinary skill.
"Master, that must be the King's Authority," Liliana explained, standing beside Deanna.
"An Authority that directly enhances swordsmanship?" Deanna turned to her disciple.
"I don't know..." Liliana shook her head.
"Lily... how has your time been with the New King these past few days? Has she mistreated you in any way?" Deanna asked, watching her apprentice and taking a deep breath.
"The King is wonderful!" Liliana exclaimed, her eyes fixed on Phoenix in the distance, a hint of girlish infatuation in her voice. Even though Phoenix wasn't wearing her usual men's attire, her androgynous clothing couldn't hide her undeniable handsomeness.
Deanna stared at Liliana, utterly bewildered by her disciple's reaction.
On the isolated island, Doni found himself at a disadvantage. In a purely swordsmanship duel, he might have held a slight edge over Phoenix. After all, the experience granted by his Authority still fell a little short of his own honed skills.
However, the Xuanyuan Sword in Phoenix's hand, imbued with the power of dominion, completely closed this gap, even tipping the scales in her favor.
Lightning! Flames! Ice!
Combined with the enhancement from Phoenix's Grips of Tai Xuan, which she never removed except when bathing, Doni began to struggle to parry.
As Phoenix's Xuanyuan Sword, now crackling with the power of the three great elements, slashed at him once more, Doni blocked it with his Magic Sword and immediately activated another Authority.
"Blood of the Evil Dragon Fafnir, grant me the fate of immortality..."
Authority:Steel's Blessing
This Authority, stolen by Doni from the Norse hero Siegfried, grants his body the hardness and weight of steel, shielding him from harm. To him, a typical collapse felt no worse than a drizzle.
His defensive capabilities skyrocketed.
With his Steel Body activated, Phoenix's attacks were immediately reduced to negligible levels.
However, this Authority had a significant drawback: the steel hardening made his movements clumsy, as if he were encased in full plate armor.
"Foolish!" Phoenix sneered at the steel-clad Doni.
She hadn't planned to use her other powers, but now it felt like a waste not to.
Raising her right hand, Phoenix gathered strands of purple lightning in her palm, which crackled and intensified under the dominion of her Grips of Tai Xuan.
An enhanced version of the Thunder Spear Authority hurtled toward Doni.
Sensing overwhelming danger from the approaching spear, Doni knew that being struck would mean certain doom.
He made his decision instantly.
"Mikos of the Wine God... summon forth the Divine Child! Immerse yourselves in the frenzied divine wine, forsake your homes, and wander into the wilderness! Worship our god!"