When Scythe and Estrella saw Yasenia showing interest in the peculiar weapon, both of them started sweating. Scythe was getting nervous because of the menacing aura around Yasenia, while Estrella feared that Yasenia would take the weapon from her because she considered it too dangerous.
Nevertheless, both were wrong. Yasenia would, if the weapon were malicious, take action. As long as it wasn't trying to ruin or damage Estrella irreparably for a hidden ploy, the dragoness would leave Estrella to deal with it. "Let's talk… Do you have a name?"
"Yasenia Dravory."
The dragoness looked over to the grandaunt from the Dragon Hunting Clan, and she smiled apologetically. "I am sorry. Could you please wait for a second? Something unexpected has happened, and I want to deal with that first."
The grandaunt had noticed how Yasenia interfered previously to avoid hurting their young talent, so she nodded. "Naturally. Tell us when you are done. We are not in a hurry."
To be honest, the grandaunt was hoping that whatever occurred to catch Yasenia's attention would be enough to cancel this nonsense duel. After fighting Skye and Kaleina, it was clear that Yasenia's children were extraordinary beings who could easily fight above their weight class. The one that jumped in the arena particularly gave her a strange feeling. 'At least I can use this as an excuse to tell those oldies in the higher heaven. Lately, they've been underestimating powers that come from the lower heaven.' She sighed, shaking her head. 'We were once such a power, and now we extend through many Heaven Layers. Can't they take things a bit more seriously?'
Meanwhile, the scythe in Estrella's hand didn't know what to do. How could she have expected that the person she chose after so many years had such an extraordinary mother? 'Ugh… Let's hope she isn't one of those excessively righteous cultivators or too protective… Else, I might be sent back to that godforsaken temple.'
Imagining that scenario, the weapon wanted to cry. 'I finally found a cute and powerful master that I like a lot. Moreover, our compatibility is so good! I don't want to be sent back to that damp place! I'll end up losing my mind if I stay there isolated for a few more thousand years!'
"Weapon."
"Scythe." The weapon answered, trying to sound respectful. "My name, given by your esteemed daughter, is Scythe, Lady Yasenia."
Estrella's eyes opened wide. "Huh? Who are you, and what did you do with Scythe?"
The weapon trembled in anger. "You stupid child! Can't you see that I am trying to be respectful to your mother?!"
Estrella hugged herself exaggeratedly, as if she were having goosebumps all over. "Oh heavens, you are so creepy sometimes."
Yasenia heard the back and forth, and the wariness in her heart was more than halved. 'They get along quite nicely.'
She didn't mind the weapon calling Estrella names because it was clearly good-natured. Moreover, Estrella had her lips faintly arched while she made those comments, clearly amused by the scythe's antics.
"Then, Scythe, here is my question. I want you to answer me truthfully. And believe me when I say that I can easily check if you are telling the truth or not. Even if you can hide from me, my lover can easily see through all lies."
Estrella nodded and spoke to the weapon. "Mommy is right. Mama Angel is basically lie-proof. She can easily tell when there is even a hint of deceit in someone's words…" Estrella sighed, her face somewhat dead. "I learned that fact quite early in my life. Never lie in front of Mama Angel, or else you will end up being spanked by Mommy."
Scythe was speechless. Still, thanks to their connection, she understood that Estrella was telling her the truth, or at least what she believed to be the truth. "I understand, Lady Yasenia. I will answer truthfully."
Yasenia chuckled. "You can speak informally. I am not too fond of such formalities between people I consider close." She then questioned it. "First of all, why were you trapped where Estrella found you?"
The Scythe internally winced. 'Woah… She really knows how to ask questions.' After pondering for a little while, the weapon resigned herself to whatever Fate had for it. "That's… Well, it's a bit complicated. I'll make a summary, and if you want to hear further details, ask for them."
Yasenia smiled. "Noted. Go ahead."
After organizing her thoughts, the Scythe spoke. "I will start bluntly. I was locked away because some people considered my existence a threat to the Gods. My name, [Heaven Consuming War Scythe], is not for show. I have an ability that allows me to eat everything my edge touches. And I mean anything. Be it energy, flesh, soul, rocks, weapons, spirits… Anything I touch, I can devour to strengthen myself and my wielder. As you can imagine, High Realm cultivators are very difficult to kill. However, I can bypass most ordinary defensive measures with just existing. Therefore, when my last wielder was surrounded by many high-level people and put down, I was sealed away."
Yasenia was stunned. She didn't expect this weapon to have such a grand background. Still, with that kind of effect, the dragoness could easily guess why those people wanted to seal it away. "I understand that… But why didn't they destroy you?"
The weapon sighed. "If I were destroyed back then, my death would cause the destruction of many worlds and lives. When I accumulate energy, I am like a giant Dantian of pure energy. After a battle to the death with thousands of peak-level cultivators, you can imagine the amount of energy inside me. Therefore, if they destroyed me, I would kill those who destroyed me and all worlds, stars, and even the Heavens nearby."
Estrella looked at the gorgeous red scythe with a stunned expression. "You never told me any of this."
Somewhat frustrated, the Scythe answered. "Why would I tell you all of this, silly child!? You would've left me in that temple to rot away if I told you! Just based on my aura and appearance, you almost didn't take me with you! Do you know how hurt I was when you called me ugly!? I admit that I've lost a lot of my luster after so many years, but I am still a decent-looking weapon!"
Yasenia looked at her daughter and saw her sheepishly look away. Yasenia chuckled and looked at the Scythe. "I have one last question for you."
Scythe was surprised that she didn't say anything about her background. It waited for Yasenia to speak.
"Are you Estrella Dravory's weapon? Or are you the [Heaven Consuming War Scythe]?"
Estrella tilted her head, not understanding how those things clashed together. 'Can't she be both?' Still, Estrella knew better than to interrupt a question her dear Mommy made. All her family knew how intelligent their dear Dragon Mother was.
The Scythe knew what Yasenia was asking, though. After thinking for a while, she sighed. "I am the [Heaven Consuming War Scythe]. The time I've spent with her is too little to say anything else."
Yasenia's lips arched, and her gaze returned to the warm and soft gaze she usually carried. "That's great to hear. If you told me anything else, I wouldn't have believed you."
The weapon stayed silent, but inside, she was feeling a surge of warmth. 'What if… She found me instead? I heard from Estrella that Yasenia was in the Secret Realm I was locked in. The one from that guy named Distancia.'
Yasenia patted Estrella's head and spoke. "Treat Scythe well. She is a really powerful weapon, and as long as you put your trust in it, I doubt she will ever betray that trust."
Estrella blinked twice and smiled widely. "Yes. I was already planning on that. I really like how Scythe fits in my hands."
The scythe knew that Yasenia was not going to do anything, and its taut nerves relaxed. Hearing what Estrella said, the weapon spoke in her alluring and teasing voice. "Oh~? Don't worry, when I recover my body, I'll fit extremely well in your arms as well~."
Estrella was speechless. "Why are you flirting with me in front of my mother?"
"Well, perhaps it won't be mother, but mother-in-law in the future~."
Yasenia laughed at their antics. Then, she looked at the grandaunt. "I am sorry for this delay. We can resume the fights whenever you are ready. We will send Estrella next on our side. She is quite strong, so I recommend someone who is good against pure martial arts."
"Wah—?" Estrella opened her eyes. "Mommy! Why are you giving them hints!?"
Yasenia shrugged. "So that you have a decent fight." She smiled and floated up. "Have fun, Little Light~."
Hearing her nickname from childhood, Estrella's elegant face gained a touch of red. She nodded demurely. "E-En, I will."
Scythe spoke in a monotonous tone. "That tone truly doesn't fit you."
Estrella scowled. "S-Shut up!"
At that moment, she noticed someone descending with a solemn expression. It was another of the men. He wore a purple robe and had a spear as a weapon. A spear user against a scythe user usually had the advantage because the scythe had trouble defending against the spear's fast thrusts. Of course, the same could be said for the spear user as well. Still, the speed advantage tilted the balance in the spear's favor.
Estrella tilted her head. "Didn't Mommy tell you my specialty? Why are you coming down? You seem like someone who treads the martial path."
The man spoke, his tone confident. "Who is better to stop a martial arts expert than someone who is more talented in the same path?"
Estrella was silent, and her lips arched faintly in a cold sneer. "Arrogant. Do you really think that you are better than me in the martial path?" She looked at the grandaunt and spoke. "Madam, change my challenger, or the fight will end in a few moves."
The grandaunt sighed. "I wish, child. But I've left them to choose among themselves who comes to fight you. According to them, he is the most suitable."
Estrella frowned and looked at the others. One of the women spoke haughtily. "Senior Brother Fars has been practicing in spear arts since he was 4 years old! If you really think that you can beat him easily, you are the one who is being arrogant."
Estrella sighed, her excitement being replaced by calmness. Looking at the man, she spoke coldly. "Using the Martial Path is useless against me. I will give you one more chance to change with one of your peers. Else, you will be humiliated and your heart for Martial Arts might be broken."
Estrella's bloodline and constitution were [War Devouring Cosmos Dragon] and [Supreme Martial Abyssal Body], respectively. If it weren't because her true talent was sealed behind her breakthroughs due to the complications at birth, she would've probably caught up with Kaleina in terms of strength already.
Yasenia blinked and squinted, looking at Estrella attentively. 'Why is she so confident?' Yasenia was unaware of the skills and powers her children had. After all, she was only reunited with them a few days ago.
The judge raised their arm and spoke. "Estrella vs Fars, begin!"
The man lunged forward while Estrella stood still. "[Spear Intent Level 4], [Redirection Intent Level 3]! [Flood Dragon's Water Lunge]!"
Estrella spoke coldly. "[War Intent Level 3], [Scythe Intent Level 3], [Devour Intent Level 3]."
Her aura skyrocketed as all the energy around her was sucked in by her and her weapon. Then, she sliced the air in front of her.
"[Innate Skill: War Consuming Strike]."
A dark aura illuminated the entire place before a massive explosion ensued.
BOOM!