God-Tier Extraction Talent: Reincarnated in a Game-like World! Chapter 538: Arriving at Tianlan: Not Alone!

Vv remained silent for a moment, merely observing White Phantom.

The train rumbled onward beneath them, a subtle vibration traveling through the practice room's floor. Gabriel sensed the armored figure was assessing him, likely contemplating if his offer was a mere formality or held a deeper motive.

Gabriel was aware of his superiority in strength over Vv.

Even without unleashing his full power, the difference was undeniable. Yet, it was precisely this disparity that piqued his interest. He wished to gauge how long Vv could endure under a fraction of his true strength. If she could withstand such pressure, she was undoubtedly extraordinary.

After a few tense seconds, Vv lowered her blade slightly.

"Fine," the words came out clearly.

Gabriel's eyebrows rose infinitesimally. He had anticipated hesitation, perhaps even outright refusal, but the affirmative response was direct.

"Good," he replied. "Not here."

Vv tilted her helmeted head.

Gabriel gestured towards the train car's wall. "If I unleash even half my strength within this confined space, this train might not withstand the impact."

Vv paused for a beat, then accepted his reasoning without audible dissent.

Not long thereafter, the pair disembarked from the train.

They emerged into the desolate open, the train continuing its journey along the tracks. The frigid night air caressed Gabriel's face as the train's rhythmic hum faded into the distance. They had already arranged to regroup later, negating the need to halt the train.

The surrounding expanse offered ample space for a genuine confrontation.

Low-lying rocks, parched grass, and uneven terrain stretched alongside the railway. The moonlight provided sufficient illumination to mark their positions, while the wind carried the faint calls of distant monsters.

Gabriel drew a sword that appeared remarkably ordinary, the kind a common guard might wield.

Vv, in contrast, brandished a colossal sword.

The weapon was immense and imposing, its edge thick. It seemed to demand immense physical power simply to swing effectively. For a fleeting instant, it brought to mind the Crimson Judgment.

Gabriel rested his sword at his side. "Begin whenever you are ready."

Bang!

Vv launched herself from the ground, the earth groaning slightly under the explosive force. The enormous sword descended in a powerful arc, targeting Gabriel's shoulder directly.

Gabriel moved in tandem.

BANG!

Their blades met. The reverberation echoed across the landscape. Vv was instantly propelled backward, her boots skidding across the terrain as sparks erupted from her armor. The armored figure slid several meters before plunging the greatsword into the earth, arresting her momentum.

Gabriel remained stationary, absently scratching the side of his head with his free hand.

"Fifty percent is still too potent."

Vv retrieved her sword and turned back towards him. Her armor bore no visible damage, but the white-knuckled grip on the hilt betrayed the force of the impact.

Gabriel adjusted his footing. "I will decrease it further."

This time, he attenuated his strength considerably, reducing it to approximately thirty percent.

Vv charged forward once more.

Gabriel stepped to intercept the assault. Their swords collided yet again, but the outcome differed. Vv was still forced back, though not sent airborne as she had been previously.

The armored individual executed a pivot, sidestepped, and utilized the sheer mass of her greatsword to create a wider engagement angle.

Gabriel's eyes narrowed slightly. "Better."

Vv offered no verbal reply and resumed her offensive.

The subsequent exchanges unfolded with swift rapidity.

The massive sword swept low, compelling Gabriel to shift his weight and reorient his wrist. His blade deflected the incoming blow, and he retaliated with a swift thrust aimed at Vv's centerline. Vv adjusted her armored stance just enough to narrowly evade the direct hit, then drove a knee towards Gabriel's exposed ribs.

Gabriel parried with his elbow and advanced.

Vv followed with another overhead strike. Gabriel met it squarely. The impact sent tremors through the nearby rocks, flattened tufts of dry grass, and gouged a fine fissure across the ground separating them.

Gabriel's fascination intensified with each passing clash.

Vv was truly remarkable.

Despite Ragnarok99 possessing a higher cultivation level, Vv exhibited a keener raw combat instinct. Every maneuver was purposeful, either probing Gabriel's defenses, positioning her to gain an advantage, or setting up the subsequent attack.

There was an undeniable undercurrent of patience, a controlled composure reminiscent of Scarlet, and perhaps Sophie.

Vv did not falter under duress. Instead, the armored figure reacted with swift adaptability, altering her footing and maintaining a keen observation of Gabriel's shoulders and grip, rather than fixating solely on the blade.

Gabriel almost perceived a reflection of himself, albeit a less experienced version, in her fighting style.

"Not bad indeed."

Vv's helmet rotated subtly, yet the assault persisted unabated.

The duel raged on.

Gabriel maintained his strength output at roughly thirty percent, while Vv escalated her aggression with every engagement. The colossal sword gouged the earth on multiple occasions. Gabriel's own blade struck Vv's armor, leaving superficial indentations that would have been far more severe had he employed greater force.

One particularly powerful exchange sent Vv skidding across a rocky expanse.

Gabriel was compelled to retreat a single step due to the forceful blow, his eyes showing a subtle hint of approval.

The sparring session continued until the eastern sky started to glow. The train's silhouette reappeared in the distance along its path.

Gabriel was the first to lower his greatsword.

"That concludes our practice for now."

Vv ceased his movements as well, his colossal blade now touching the ground.

Gabriel cast a glance at the approaching train. "We ought to go back."

The duo rejoined the train effortlessly, their swift pace minimizing the distance.

Upon their arrival back at the train, the initial glimpse of Tianlan was already visible on the horizon. Towering edifices pierced the morning mist, and the landscape ahead presented a distinct contrast to the areas they had traversed earlier. The train's speed gradually decreased as it neared the peripheral route leading into the martial kingdom situated within the Realm of Ascendency.

Within the train's carriages, various passengers had congregated near the windows.

ChaosCleric stood apart, his weary eyes rubbing as he observed the unfolding scenery. IceQueen remained close by, her gaze intently fixed on the approaching region.

"We are not the only ones present," IceQueen commented softly.

Gabriel peered outwards.

Additional trains occupied adjacent tracks.

Armored transports, exotic creatures, aerial steeds, and numerous contingents of both elegantly attired players and indigenous inhabitants were already assembling near the station grounds.

The mission for the Buried God’s Tomb had not yet commenced, yet the invited factions had begun their arrival.