The sun was shining bright over the ocean as Tempest led Kiba from the shore and made their way into the forest. She couldn't shake off the memory of the battle between Aurora and Kiba, and the ease with which Kiba had defeated the fierce warrior.
For her, it was not just a contest; it was plain bullying. This was why Tempest decided to leave Aurora and other warriors from her team behind. They weren't like her, who could control their emotions, and she didn't want them to provoke Kiba and face a humiliating end.
"Still, I just couldn't let this man forget his place… he's in Eden!"
Tempest thought, her grip on her sword sheath tightening.
"And not some wasteland where men ruin everything with their superiority complex!"
Tempest couldn't help but cast sidelong glances at Kiba. The latter was busy observing the surroundings, admiring the beauty of the place.
"This place is truly a refreshing change from the boring sights of cities!" Kiba exclaimed when he noticed her gaze lingering on him. "And this is just the entrance of Eden! I can't imagine the true beauty of Eden!"
"As expected from a man… arrogant to no end!" Tempest thought, her heart brimming with fury. "He has already forgotten what he did a minute ago!"
"Haa~" Kiba sighed internally. Tempest did her best to hide her emotions, but he could read her like an open book.
"Why am I always misunderstood?"
Kiba wondered, recalling how even people in cities misunderstood his charitable acts of cuckolding as humiliation.
Now, he had just entered the land of women, and he was already misunderstood by the first few women he met.
Why was only someone so honest and kind like him tested?!
"The fate always tests the one who couldn't be tempted… so I shouldn't be surprised."
Kiba resumed his focus back on the surroundings.
The tall trees provided a canopy of green leaves, filtering the light and casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. The sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves filled the air, along with the occasional splash from the nearby shore. The forest was alive with color and life, and Kiba felt like he had been transported to another world.
"He really thinks he's a tourist!"
Tempest muttered to herself.
"But he's in for a surprise if he thinks I'm going to be a good-natured guide!"
Sure, the Ice Queen had ordered her to consider Kiba as a tourist, but nowhere in the order was it mentioned that she had to be kind to the tourist. The only thing she had to do was give him a tour of Eden, barring the castle and other restricted regions.
"So, what if I lack the strength to face him? I could still make his experience terrible!"
Tempest's rageful heart now brimmed with joy.
A few minutes later, as they continued their tour, they suddenly heard the sound of metal clashing. Tempest's eyes glinted with excitement. Her opportunity had arrived.
She turned to Kiba and, with a cheerful smile, said, "Do you want to see how we warriors train?"
Kiba raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her sudden cheerfulness.
"Well, I want to see much more..."
Kiba replied honestly, alas Tempest lacked compression skills to understand what he meant by 'much more'.
"But training would still be a good start."
"Great!"
Tempest could barely suppress her excitement and led Kiba towards the sound of clashing weapons.
The location was a mutated swamp with the power of camouflage, unique to Eden, created by the same element that created the foundation of Eden - a World Fragment of Celestial Elysian Plane.
The swamp was known for being treacherous, with hidden sinkholes and quick mud that could ensnare the unwary. Even mutants with extraordinary perception couldn't always detect its camouflage, which often morphed into a simple forest ground and only activated when its prey's guard was down.
This made it an excellent place for training, as it taught one to be aware of their surroundings during battle. But one wrong step could result in death, making the training futile.
As they approached, Kiba saw two women battling it out.
One was wielding dual blades, her movements graceful and deadly, while the other was wielding a large maul and swinging it with force, leaving deep craters in the ground with each strike.
"The one with blades is Adira and the other one is Elara," Tempest said as they approached.
She wanted to keep Kiba's concentration on the battle and not the surrounding, so she decided to distract him with words.
"This is what we do here in Eden. Our warriors train hard to protect us from any danger that may come our way."
Tempest thought she had found the perfect opportunity to humiliate Kiba by leading him straight into the swamp, hoping he would stumble and fall into the mud. She didn't expect him to die, but she was sure he would be humiliated when the mud covered him, and all of his arrogance would disappear.
"Is that so?"
Kiba replied as he walked forward.
"I thought your Ice Queen kept everyone safe?"
Tempest felt a spark of anger at his mention of their revered ruler, but she didn't want to waste time on petty issues when she was about to succeed.
"The Ice Queen may rule over us, but she can't be everywhere at once. It's up to us to defend our home and people, and that's why we train so hard, to be ready for anything."
Kiba nodded, focusing on the battle between Adira and Elara.
Both were low-ranked warriors, their powers and agility combining to create a deadly dance of death. They were evenly matched, with their weapons flashing in the sunlight as they leapt and twisted.
What caught Kiba's attention was their appearance.
Adira was tall and toned, with muscles that tensed and released with each strike, causing sweat to bead on her skin and run down her curves. Elara had muscles like steel, with raven black hair that accentuated the fire in her eyes. As she moved, the light danced on her skin, revealing her rippling muscles.
Sweat drips from her forehead, cascading down her neck and over her the slopes of her breasts.
"It's quite a sight."
Kiba said with real appreciation.
"The way they move, the way they fight... it's almost..."
"Almost what?" Tempest asked, curious about his judgment of their skills.
"Nothing," Kiba shook his head.
Tempest cursed silently.
Despite his attention being on her and the battle, the swamp wasn't taking advantage of the situation to ensnare Kiba.
It remained in its camouflaged phase.
"Just why?!"
She wondered.
Still, she didn't forget to be careful. She stepped past areas where she suspected the muck and mire might devour her, relying on her understanding and experience to avoid danger.
Until it didn't...