Chapter 23 [The Dragon Soars in the Brightest Night ]

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"OOOH! This is gonna be fun!" Crowley laughed maniacally.

Wu Zetian looked before her with feverous glee. A smirk adorned her blood-marked face while she observed the twitches of Tsukuyomi's hands. She analyzed everything before her as her mind, its usual sharpness enhanced even further by Demon Mind, raced vigorously. "Well now...is his lack of guard just exhaustion kicking in? Or is it a trap to lure me into his blade..."

As the two entered melee range for what could very well be the final time, it was Zetian who reached the uncharted space first. The single step she took next was not just a mere step, but a spark- the fire that lit the chain reaction of blades and blows that followed. Zetian's foot crossed the point of no return, and in an instant, a barrage of radiant blades flew forth. But the Empress was ready. She moved smoothly and preemptively, slipping past two blades without losing ground. A third was deflected by an upwards swing of the ornate scabbard still in Zetian's hand.

Undeterred, Tsukuyomi grit his teeth and dashed sideways in a quick burst of speed, flapping his wings for extra propulsion. The sheer speed of the wings he'd barely grown used to nearly caused him to stumble, but that was a necessary risk. Right now, he had to sacrifice precision for speed. Zetian's arm was raised, her body angled sideways, leaving a narrow blind spot fully open for the briefest of moments. And at this point, she'd grown too used to him attacking at range. The moon god didn't hesitate for a moment. He took his chance, dashed forward even faster, and delivered a lunging, swift slash to Zetian's side with all his might.

Yet that sleek and deadly flash of light only cut through cold air. Zetian swiftly stepped back with a cocky smirk. Even blind spots could be turned into opportunities- that was one thing she'd learned early on at the Imperial court.

"Hah...I didn't think you'd fall for that!" Zetian taunted as she spun the gleaming scabbard to deflect three more flying blades, before lowering her legs to crouch down. Playful sharpness could be seen in her smile- the devilish smile she'd give to her rare worthy foes. Tsukuyomi couldn't help but grin ever so slightly as well, caught up in the heat of battle.

"Very impressive indeed, Empress..." Tsukuyomi replied. He watched Zetian closely with what miniscule time he had. She'd left that blind spot open, but for what? To retreat? No...it became clear soon. The false opening had forced him to fly forward. Her scathing words and the spinning scabbard's gleam had distracted his senses. And her legs acting like springs, ready to pounce, moving rapidly in tandem with her wickedly curved arm...!

WHITE TIGER'S ASSAULT

"Tch!" Tsukuyomi exclaimed. He immediately gathered all his strength and flapped his shining wings to soar backwards, this time more smoothly than his previous 'flight', yet his surprise and inexperience with those wings still cost him. The moon god winced and cried out slightly as that life-rending blow grazed his chest with a harsh ripping sound. The raw flash of pain, combined with his diverted focus, was enough- the floating blades behind Tsukuyomi promptly dematerialized like snowflakes melting in the air. And to his shock, Zetian was already charging towards him to follow up, her lower body twisting and coiling as she closed the distance, ready to unleash a devastating kick. It was as if she'd been waiting for the split second the blades started to crumble.

Qin Shi Huang grinned earnestly in his seat. "Hao! Excellent technique, as expected from an Empress...blow that god away, Wu Zetian!"

'Marvelous...despite his lack of experience, his natural aptitude with those wings is more than clear. You truly are incredible, son, may this battle be what makes you finally realize it...' Lucifer thought to himself.

Before Tsukuyomi could even raise his blade, Zetian swung her leg forth like a halberd. With the lightning explosiveness of a whip, and the weight of an iron hammer, it was nothing less than a strike thrown to kill- and if the moon god somehow evaded it, he'd still be on the back foot. The fire in Zetian's eyes burned hungrier than ever. Now that she was firmly on the attack, she didn't intend to let her foe gain even an inch of distance, or a second of recovery as his power waned. Turning a single small advantage into absolute victory was yet another skill she'd honed in that palace.

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