Gathering Wives with a System Chapter 455: Alice’s New Combat Style, Random Gift Box

Emily quickly masked her look of surprise, realizing that all her subordinates were observing her reaction closely.

"I’ll handle this matter. All of you, return to your posts," she declared with a firm voice.

The Overlords nodded in unison. Recognizing Isaac and sensing no pressing threat, they retreated without posing any more questions.

Before long, they moved through the crowds of citizens, easing the minor disturbance starting near the wall and spreading into the City.

"I’ll open a mirror dimension," Isaac announced.

The air warped like ripples expanding over tranquil water.

A slender mirror-like barrier enveloped them, and Isaac extended his hand, drawing himself, Alice, and Emily into the reflective realm.

As soon as they passed through the edge, the city's clamor faded away, replaced by soft winds and the expansive plains stretching beyond the walls.

Emily's poised demeanor softened at once. Away from prying eyes, her gaze sparkled while a gentle smile lit up her features.

She descended to the border wall's crest, alighting gracefully before leaning in to examine Alice properly, who lounged just outside the walls in her transformed state.

"Congratulations on completing the Trial. And what is this?" Emily inquired, curiosity shining through her serene voice.

[Thank you. As for this, it’s a skill I gained after my Physique upgrade and the bloodline boost from consuming the potion made from the Mana Heart of Crimson Sky Wyrm.]

Alice kept her voice steady, yet her body revealed her thrill. Her tail whipped back and forth without pause, front claws drumming the ground softly as though she could hardly contain herself. The soft gleam in her eyes highlighted her burning desire to display her new prowess.

"You look beautiful in that form," Emily responded, her smile broadening just a touch.

Alice inclined her head, then cleared her throat, striving to appear collected.

[Can you take out your Crimson Sky Wyrm? I want to try fighting it and see how much I’ve improved.]

Emily's smile froze in an instant. The Crimson Sky Wyrm was overwhelmingly powerful for mere sparring.

Alice had undoubtedly powered up, but the huge disparity in bulk and sheer might still posed grave risks.

Instinctively, she turned to Isaac, expecting him to discourage Alice.

Isaac's face held an unusual expression. Concern was nowhere to be seen.

Rather, he appeared accepting, like he'd anticipated this exact moment.

"...?"

A faint frown crossed Emily's brow, puzzled by his demeanor.

Isaac let out a sigh and leaped from Alice’s head, landing next to Emily on the wall.

"Just do it. She learned quite a few things in the Trial, and she also created her own combat style. It should allow her to have somewhat of a proper fight with Crimson Sky Wyrm."

"Uh... huh?" she responded, unclear on his point.

Isaac shook his head. Detailing it all would consume too much time, and he knew watching it unfold would prove far more persuasive.

"Do we need to go to the Ashfang Tribe for your beasts, or do you have them with you?"

"I have them in my Soul Space. The space is still small, but I can store Crim in it," Emily replied, a hint of bewilderment lingering.

"Crim?" Isaac echoed.

"Crimson Sky Wyrm. I gave it a name," she explained, her smile resurfacing.

Isaac nodded.

Emily lifted her hand, warping the space encircling her.

A colossal aura manifested above as the Crimson Sky Wyrm appeared in the skies overhead.

Its gigantic wings unfurled broadly, throwing shadows across the plains, while its scarlet scales shimmered softly amid heat waves rising from its form.

Even with Alice’s enhanced shape, the size gap remained stark. The Crimson Sky Wyrm towered over her entirely.

Crim recoiled briefly at the sight of Alice. Her shadowy dragonish look jolted him, but detecting her presence confirmed she remained an Infant Dragon.

Hesitation evaporated, replaced by surging assurance.

He snorted, crimson flames dancing in his jaws as he beat his wings arrogantly, gazing down at Alice.

Alice's eyes gleamed with eagerness. Her tail rose faintly as she crouched forward, plainly itching to commence.

Nearly simultaneously, both beat their wings, rocketing skyward in a burst of velocity.

Air cracked in their trails as their rapid ascent shoved the winds aside.

Isaac observed silently.

Witnessing their pace, he reaffirmed the deadliness of his Lord Trial. Had the Crimson Sky Wyrm not been restrained then, it could've obliterated his city with ease.

Fighting erupted right away. Crim lunged first, swinging his enormous tail through the air in a sweeping curve.

The blow packed devastating power, sufficient to demolish multiple edifices, but Alice blinked out of reach beforehand.

She rematerialized overhead, her ’smaller’ frame darting with unexpected swiftness.

She plunged directly downward.

Her form turned into a dark streak as she smashed into his neck. The collision burst with immense power, hurling them apart while scales and blood flew through the air.

Crim bellowed in agony.

Before he could steady himself, Alice’s wounds started healing. A gentle white glow flowed over her body, swiftly regenerating the ripped scales and broken flesh.

Without pause, she lunged forward once more.

This time, she barreled into his chest, ripping through his defenses as her own body took severe harm.

The crash sent them both reeling back, yet Alice spun in mid-air and sped up again, repeating her daring tactic.

Emily’s eyes grew wide watching the scene.

"She’s... fighting like that?"

Alice showed no sign of slowing. She exploited her velocity, slamming into Crim over and over, swapping blows fearlessly.

Emily faced Isaac, her face filled with worry.

"Why is she fighting like that? Stop her."

"I’ve tried stopping her a thousand times already," Isaac answered with a weary sigh. "Trust me, she didn’t listen. When I got serious, she doubled down and refused to talk to me for a week. She said she wouldn’t speak again unless I stopped trying to change her combat style."

Emily glanced back at the fight, still troubled.

Logically, the approach worked well. Alice’s Miracle of Grace skill let her recover from massive injuries, so she could trade hits freely. Even so, seeing her purposely harm herself felt unnerving.

"Don’t worry too much. She was guided by quite a few masters in the Trial. Instead of just rushing recklessly, she’s using violence to gain an upper hand," Isaac explained.

"Upper hand?" Emily asked.

"It creates psychological pressure. Seeing your opponent get torn apart, ignore the pain, heal instantly, and attack again will shake anyone. It forces them to hesitate, and that hesitation becomes an opening," Isaac said. "And that’s not the only thing she learned."

As if to prove it, vast amounts of mana gathered around Alice’s claw. The air nearby quivered from the intense force.

Crim froze upon sensing the familiar power.

He attempted to flee through the sky, but Alice slashed with her claw.

Space tore open before her. A crescent-shaped cut sliced through the atmosphere, carving into Crim’s wings. Blood gushed out as he tumbled off balance and plummeted.

Emily’s eyes widened further.

"That’s... that’s—"

"That’s the same Sword Art technique the Sword Empress used to cut Crimson Sky Wyrm’s wing. Alice was guided by her in the Trial, and the technique was modified so she could use it with her claws," Isaac explained.

Crim’s wings mended swiftly, yet his actions grew far more careful.

Rather than rush in, he orbited Alice warily, keeping a sharp eye on her.

The formerly haughty disaster now appeared on guard.

Alice’s mana surged as she thrilled in the clash. She blurred out of sight once more. This round, she avoided a straight charge.

She zipped around him at blinding speed, gathering speed while shifting paths constantly. Crim struggled to follow, forced to pivot endlessly.

Abruptly, she materialized overhead and struck down. Crim parried with his claws, the clash jolting them both.

Before he could strike back, Alice spun and sank her teeth into his shoulder. Crim howled and unleashed a torrent of crimson flames, swallowing them both.

As the fire faded, Alice’s body was scorched and oozing blood, but her injuries were sealing shut.

Crim faltered, giving Alice the chance to ram him once more, driving him toward the ground. They smashed into the plains, shattering the terrain.

Emily’s expression tightened.

"Isaac, I think we should stop her."

"As much as I hate that fighting style, she is winning. Look closely," Isaac replied.

Emily peered more intently and saw he was correct. Alice aimed for joints, wings, and weak spots, using her own damage to expose flaws.

Crim lifted off anew, now vigilant and ready, as Alice floated before him, her gaze gleaming with thrill.

Alice pressed her assault relentlessly, seamlessly mixing Dragon Flames, Sword Arts, and Saintess abilities.

Her style no longer depended on one power alone.

She blended raw strength, regeneration, enhancements, and devastating Arts and skills into a nightmare matchup.

Whenever Crim sought to dominate with brute force, she countered with agility and claw-adapted sword techniques.

When he tried to overwhelm her with fire, she recovered instantly and hit back hard.

This endless variety rendered her impossible to predict, and though smaller and less powerful overall, she gradually forced him on the retreat.

Emily observed in awe.

Despite Crim’s edge in size and sheer might, he found himself defending far more than attacking.

Alice's unyielding speed stopped him from bringing his full power into play, and each moment of doubt left yet another vulnerability exposed.

"What exactly happened in the Trial?" Emily finally inquired, her curiosity too strong to contain.

Isaac started recounting all the events, precisely as he had shared with Celia earlier. He described the masters Alice encountered, the techniques she mastered, the battle philosophy she embraced, and the profound shifts they both experienced in the Trial.

Emily listened in silence as he spoke, nodding here and there. Her eyes expanded wide multiple times while absorbing the brutal training's ferocity and their harrowing experiences.

Once done, Isaac breathed out softly and added, "That’s why Alice and I are far stronger these days. Though our levels remain unchanged, I believe we could overpower five to seven of our pre-Trial selves. So please don't fret excessively, alright?"

"Even if you say that, I can’t help worrying about Alice—"

"I’m talking about your Lord Quest, not Alice," Isaac interjected softly.

Emily blinked in surprise at the abrupt change in topic.

A faint smile crossed Isaac’s lips. "A Lord’s Tutorial Quest difficulty scales with their potential. Yours is terrifyingly vast due to your bloodline and the horde of mighty beasts you can command. Your quest might match mine in challenge, or surpass it. Yet we're vastly improved now, and we'll conquer it side by side. So relax."

"...You knew I was worried?" Emily whispered.

"Of course. I know my Emily inside out. I sense her every feeling—"

He halted abruptly as Emily bowed her head. From his view, her face was now hidden. Then she advanced and enveloped him in a firm embrace.

Isaac gave a wry smile, grasping her inner turmoil. He softly stroked her back, allowing the hug without further words.

Fear had gripped Emily. The dread of a devastating disaster striking amid her Lord Quest haunted her thoughts.

That terror stemmed from the Blood Lord, the calamity that claimed her parents' lives.

Imagining confronting a like horror by herself filled her with unease, despite her outward composure.

While they lingered in that pose, Isaac murmured tenderly, "With me by your side, you have nothing to fear. I swear I'll shield you forever."

Emily nodded into his shoulder, staying quiet.

Right then, a panel materialized in Isaac’s vision.

[Your Wife, Emily Warren’s Affection has reached 150!]

[You have received Random Gift Box x1]