As Mary's figure appeared a hundred meters away, another bolt of lightning roared down from above her head.
Having no choice, she had to fly away again.
After flying out another hundred meters, beyond the lightning's attack range, she finally stopped and looked at Qin Shilei, who remained stationary.
"Not bad, I'll get serious now."
Mary put away her dismissiveness.
Void Chain!
A transparent chain flew rapidly towards Qin Shilei.
"So she's a spatial ability user. No wonder she can teleport."
Qin Shilei mused, tapping his staff several times, and more lightning bolts struck the Void Chain that flew over.
Although the Void Chain was an extremely powerful ability, it was easily shattered by the even more potent lightning.
Dimensional Slash!
Another curved, transparent blade flew towards Qin Shilei.
However, this Dimensional Slash also failed to break through the lightning blockade. After shattering three bolts of lightning, it dissipated powerlessly in the air.
Qin Shilei was like a human artillery platform, continuously unleashing lightning in all directions.
He intercepted all sorts of spatial attacks launched by Mary from all directions, keeping them twenty meters away from him.
Mary, however, became increasingly astonished as she fought.
When she heard that the opponent had defeated her third general, Henry, in a single exchange, she had given Qin Shilei a decent evaluation but hadn't taken him too seriously.
This was because Mary herself could have easily defeated Henry.
Now, after their engagement, she not only lost her dismissiveness but even felt, "Even with all my skills, I might not be able to defeat him."
This was because the opponent hadn't moved from his spot, nor had he used any other techniques.
Just the ordinary lightning bolts had forced her to constantly change her moves and dodge.
Unwilling to accept defeat, Mary teleported towards Qin Shilei again.
As soon as she appeared behind him, she immediately unleashed two Void Chains, hoping to restrain Qin Shilei.
As for the lightning bolts that were once again striking, she used several scrolls to defend against them.
The scrolls indeed helped Mary block Qin Shilei's lightning attacks as she had hoped, and the Void Chains also managed to entangle him.
However, before the Void Chains could exert their force, they were shattered by the electrical energy emanating from Qin Shilei's body.
Mary, having no choice, had to flee again.
"Stop!"
Mary shouted loudly, and then slowly flew back towards Qin Shilei.
"Locke, your strength is recognized by me. As for the proposal for you to pledge allegiance, we'll drop it."
Qin Shilei smiled, "Your Highness Mary, I also deeply admire your strength!"
Mary smiled brightly, "I have a ultimate technique. Please, judge it for yourself!"
Exile!
As Mary formed a complex hand seal, a dark, five-meter-wide black hole appeared twenty to thirty meters in front of them.
A massive gravitational pull emanated from the hole.
Even from twenty to thirty meters away, caught off guard, Qin Shilei's body involuntarily swayed a few times.
"Your Highness the Empress, your ultimate technique is indeed extraordinary. If you had suddenly unleashed it next to me, I might not have been able to escape."
Qin Shilei looked with interest at the dark hole in front of him, suddenly feeling an urge to drink some Enlightenment Tea and study it.
Mary stared at Qin Shilei for a good while, realizing that he wasn't feigning composure. She surmised that this move might not be enough to completely kill him, so she waved her hand and dispersed the black hole.
Seeing the black hole disappear, Qin Shilei also smiled, "I also have an ultimate technique. Please, Your Highness the Empress, judge it for yourself!"
Thunderous Nine Heavens!
A lightning pillar as thick as a bucket descended from the sky, striking a large rock below.
There was no earth-shattering explosion!
After a flash of lightning, a deep, dark hole appeared in the center of the rock.
Mary deliberately flew to the top of the rock and peered down into the hole.
A flicker of shock instantly appeared on her face.
The lightning pillar had not only pierced through the ten-meter-thick rock but had also obliterated forty to fifty meters of the hard ground.
With such immense power, if it had struck her, she would have been annihilated without a trace.
Fortunately, they were merely sparring earlier and hadn't used their ultimate techniques, otherwise, at least one of them would never have seen the sun again.
Mary now completely acknowledged Qin Shilei's strength.
Looking at him again, she realized that Qin Shilei was actually quite handsome!
A thought suddenly entered her mind.
Mary's beautiful face suddenly flushed.
"This girl isn't trying to win, but has taken a liking to me?" Qin Shilei was puzzled by her sudden blush.
"Let's go back," Mary turned and flew back towards her palace.
Qin Shilei's figure moved, and he followed her.
Perhaps due to acknowledging Qin Shilei's strength, Mary did not return to the main hall and her throne to converse with Qin Shilei from a superior position. Instead, she chose a smaller side hall, and they sat opposite each other.
"I wonder, Locke, what are your plans for the future?" Mary asked, her gaze intense.
"During the apocalypse, one can only strive to improve their cultivation to secure a sliver of hope for the future."
Qin Shilei spoke eloquently, "I heard that Your Highness the Empress is as beautiful as a celestial being. Firstly, I came to witness your beauty; secondly, I hope to obtain your help in contracting a suitable pet."
Mary tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "I wonder if you, Locke, would be willing to stay here and help me re-establish the glory of the Sun Never Sets Empire?"
Qin Shilei hesitated slightly.
If he agreed, he might win the beauty's heart.
Then, asking her for methods to contract flying beasts in large numbers would likely not be difficult.
However, he didn't want to incur more romantic debts, nor did he want to be a scumbag who took advantage and then left without a second thought.
The hesitation flashed by. Qin Shilei's lips curved into a smile, "The Sun Never Sets Empire is Locke's homeland. It is Locke's honor to contribute to the prosperity of the homeland, and it would be a joy I could only dream of to forge a future together with Your Highness the Empress."
Mary was only interested in Locke. What did that have to do with Qin Shilei?
Besides, these Western women were very open. Perhaps Mary was just looking for a lover.
Hearing this, Mary smiled brightly and invited, "I'll take you on a tour of our Calvia."
As they walked out of the side hall, she casually waved her hand and summoned a griffin about four to five meters tall.
Platinum Three Stars!
Qin Shilei immediately recognized the griffin's cultivation level and looked at Mary with even greater admiration.
Mary's own cultivation was only Gold Seven Stars, yet she owned a Platinum Three Star griffin as a pet. She likely possessed other unknown ultimate techniques.
The two of them flew onto the griffin's back side by side. Then, under Mary's command, the griffin carried them to admire the beautiful scenery of Calvia.
During their tour, Mary also recounted various aspects of the Sun Never Sets Empire to Qin Shilei.
As night fell, dim candlelight, mellow red wine, tender steak, and sweet pastries.
They sat opposite each other, an ambiguous atmosphere permeating the surroundings.
Did he really have to sacrifice his honor?
Or perhaps, he had to take advantage of the situation to achieve his goal?
Qin Shilei hesitated once more.