Arknights' Lock of Heaven

Without the enhancements, I would definitely be beaten to death!

In her panic, she spotted Xia Yu, who had been watching the scene unfold beside her. Her eyes lit up, and she cast a pleading look at him.

"Ahem," Xia Yu stood up seriously and coughed twice to interrupt their interaction.

"Miss Zofia, you must have seen my abilities, right?"

Maria breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Hearing this, Zofia also suppressed her unrestrained smile, turned around and said seriously, "Hmm, that's quite an amazing ability."

"I swear in the name of a knight that I will never reveal this to anyone..."

"Ah, that's not what I meant," Xia Yu quickly interrupted her to explain, "It's more like, if anyone wants to know, they can just tell anyone."

"Um, but..."

“It’s okay,” Xia Yu said earnestly, “Trust me!”

Hmm, what can't be said to others?

In case someone really wants to do something bad, and then learns about the enhanced ability, they might use it to target me.

Hehehe...

Just in case, Xia Yu decided to dig a pit for potential enemies.

It will be convenient to bury people when the time comes.

“Including you, Maria,” Xia Yu turned to look at Maria, “If anyone wants to ask you about my abilities, you can say whatever you want, exaggerate as much as you want.”

“Um, this… isn’t that a bit inappropriate…” Maria hesitated, looking at Zofia.

The latter also looked conflicted.

That's a really strange request.

"Don't worry, it'll be fine," Xia Yu patted her chest loudly. "Just listen to me."

“Alright then,” Zofia said, though she didn’t understand why Xia Yu was doing this, she didn’t say anything.

They turned around and started training again.

Maria, seeing this, raised her sword with a bitter face; she knew she couldn't escape a beating today.

I hope my aunt will go easy on me.

"Hey, wait a minute," Xia Yu said, reaching out to stop the training once again.

"Miss Zofia, would you like to try my Originium Arts?"

"Huh? Me?" Zofia asked, pointing to herself.

“Yes,” Xia Yu nodded with a smile.

"I heard that your dominant left hand is injured and you can't use it, so your strength has been greatly reduced, right?"

"Want to try my ability? Although I can't cure you, I can restore you to your full strength for a short time."

Upon hearing this, Zofia's eyes filled with excitement.

"Wow, you can do that?" She gasped.

Maria was also dumbfounded.

As the first person to experience the hero system, no one understands that feeling better than her.

If it were my aunt...

Maria shuddered at the thought.

He can easily beat his aunt without using his left hand; what would happen if he used his dominant left hand?

but……

She looked at the interest in Zofia's eyes, opened her mouth but couldn't say anything.

It's been almost nine years since my aunt was injured and retired...

She silently raised her sword and stood there waiting for training to begin.

Come on, I can do it!

While recalling the feeling she had during the time she was created as a hero, she encouraged herself.

"Forget it," Zofia said, even though she was very tempted, but after glancing at Maria, she still rejected Xia Yu's suggestion.

"I can easily beat her! I can do it with one hand."

Upon hearing this, Maria couldn't help but burst into tears.

As expected, Zofia still loves me!

But when she turned her head, she caught a glimpse of the faint disappointment in the former's eyes.

“Sister Zofia,” she said, “why don’t you try using the enhancement?”

"Didn't you always say I was arrogant and ignorant? I also want to see the strength of the top 16 in the Knights Tournament."

"Wow, you've got quite the big talk," Zofia raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "Did your previous demeanor give you that confidence?"

“Of course,” Maria said with a smile, “I’m very strong!”

"Hmm," Zofia's familiar smile returned as she saw this.

Maria's legs went weak at the sight, but she still tried her best to maintain a confident expression.

“Since you’re so eager…” Zofia drawled out, then slowly said, “Take this!”

As soon as he finished speaking, he charged towards Maria like an arrow released from a bow.

"Ahhh, Auntie is so unethical!" Maria shouted as she frantically retaliated.

"Heh, you think you can use reverse psychology on me?" Zofia said mercilessly, "Your method is too simplistic; I can see through it at a glance!"

"Besides, even without my left hand, I can still beat you to a pulp!"

Even faster than her words came the sword in her hand.

By the time Maria finished speaking, her armor had already been struck by four or five swords.

The latter, on the other hand, was thrown about by her dazzling swordsmanship.

This was the scene when Markowitz first met Maria Nearl.

He stood far away at the edge of the abandoned garden, standing on tiptoe to look in the direction of their training.

It has to be said that Maria's performance was really embarrassing.

“Sir, my master is just ahead,” the old butler of the manor gestured.

"Uh, I know, I know," he said, taking out a tissue and wiping his sweat repeatedly.

"I had the privilege of meeting the Whipblade Knight a few years ago."

On the training field, Zofia noticed his arrival, stopped her attack, and walked towards Markowitz.

Maria was finally able to rest for a while.

"Ah, I remember you. You're that young manager..."

175 Invitations and the Capitalists' Penny-Picking

"No...no longer. I'm just...a nobody running errands for Swoma..."

Markowitz wiped the sweat from his forehead and said awkwardly.

"I see. Your instructor is Whipblade Knight, that's even better."

"Ha, I remember back when you had your own little company, you actually barged in to snatch my sponsorship rights."

"So what are you planning to do here this time?" Zofia asked, looking at him.

Although he wasn't particularly fond of big companies, he didn't have any ill feelings towards Zofia, the impetuous manager from back then.

The main reason is that I think this person has a decent character.

“You all know about the commotion in the city last night,” Markowitz said, pulling a document from his bag.

"My purpose in coming here this time is also related to this matter."

"Uh, a commotion?" Zofia and Maria looked bewildered. "What commotion?"

"You two don't know yet?" Markowitz said with a surprised look.

"Was it last night, that inexplicable heart palpitation that affected the entire city? Could it be that Miss Zofia can't give birth here?"

"Oh, you mean that?" Zofia realized what was happening. "That's true, but it disappeared immediately."

"Besides, we're in closed training, so we haven't had time to find out what's going on outside."

“It’s all over the place now,” Markowitz sighed, “saying that a natural disaster is coming, and that inexplicable feeling of unease is just the prelude.”

Hearing this, Xia Yu awkwardly touched her nose.

Cough cough, he really didn't expect Terra to be so helpful. To be honest, he was just showing his true feelings, and the sky immediately changed color...