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Authentic dragon magic can only be wielded through the unique eight-vocal-cord resonance chanting of the dragonkin. Although humans later deciphered the complex draconic tongue, giving rise to the profession of dragon-speakers, neither its power nor casting speed could match the original. Nevertheless, dragon magic remains highly coveted among mages for one reason: it largely counters conventional elemental magic. It manipulates not ordinary elements but astral elements infused with the power of the dragons' homeland—the Astral Realm—surpassing common elements in both potency and controllability. Were it not for the extreme difficulty and stringent aptitude requirements of mastering dragon magic, over half of human mages would likely switch to it.

Though the Golden Dragon's intervention didn't suppress the King of the Undead, it effectively cut off the Liches' path to targeting the Dragon Saint.

Just as the Dragon Saint felt slightly relieved and prepared to swiftly deal with Catherine, he was surprised to discover that the battle qi of this beastkin Emperor Martial was surging once more.

"Hmm? With less than sixty percent of her battle qi, how can she still unleash seventy to eighty percent of her power?" the Dragon Saint wondered as he clashed with Catherine.

From their first clash, the Dragon Saint had already gauged Catherine's combat state. Though the lion beastkin were an apex warrior species, and their females retained some fighting capability even during pregnancy—unlike human women—it still significantly hampered Catherine's performance. In such a pinnacle duel, even the slightest disparity could determine the outcome, so the Dragon Saint had even believed he could end the battle within fifteen minutes.

Yet he hadn't anticipated that in the brief span of the King of the Undead's interference, Catherine's attack speed, strength, and momentum would continuously escalate—from being repelled in every early exchange to now engaging in dozens of exchanges at close quarters. This rate of power growth was far from normal.

"Hmph, I've already told you, Dragon Saint—today, you're the one who will die here!" Catherine's fighting spirit never waned, her resolute gaze like a tangible force, firmly fixed on the Dragon Saint.

The golden arc of the Oath of the Covenant sliced through the void, the sword techniques of the Six Supreme Arts of the Emperor executed flawlessly by Catherine, interspersed with crushing punches and lightning-fast kicks, her assault an unrelenting tide, each wave fiercer than the last.

However, the Dragon Saint's gaze pierced through the golden streaks, uncovering the secret hidden within.

It was a series of azure runic patterns.

"Oh? So it's this." The Dragon Saint frowned slightly. "The Vow of Triumph? I always thought it was a feature added by counterfeiters. I never imagined the true 'Oath of the Covenant' also possessed this power."

Epic divine weapons had always been the focal point of this war-torn world. And when the vast majority lacked the strength or fortune to obtain a genuine divine weapon, counterfeits emerged to fill the void.

Naturally, not every divine weapon had counterfeits—their appearance, capabilities, power, and renown all determined how many imitations existed. The most replicated was undoubtedly the "Crimson Lotus of Ten Realms," the most bizarrely styled among the Ten Divine Swords. Not only could its flame-forged blade allow mediocre nobles to pose as masters, but its compact hilt form when sheathed also made it widely popular. In contrast, the "Dragon Slayer," with its near two-meter length and anvil-wide blade, had not a single counterfeit in circulation.

Similarly, the "Holy Sword—Oath of the Covenant," with its radiant golden visage, became a heavily imitated object.

For a counterfeit divine weapon to have a market, it needed to resemble the original not just in appearance but also in power. Ordinary forgers naturally couldn't replicate the Oath of the Covenant's ever-shifting runic patterns, let alone achieve the sword's famed state of "never losing so long as one refuses defeat." Thus, some imitators, inspired by the "Sword of Promised Victory," added an incantation called the "Vow of Triumph" to their counterfeits.

The so-called "Vow of Triumph" was a liminal art between benediction and hex. Before battle, the wielder would designate an enemy and swear an oath. In the ensuing fight, striking force and true-hit chance against that enemy would increase. However, if victorious, the wielder only needed to expend some stamina and mana. But if the outcome contradicted the oath, the oath's power would rebound doubly on the wielder, often proving instantly fatal.

In the Dragon Saint's historical records, no bearer of the Oath of the Covenant had ever called upon the "Vow of Triumph," leading him to dismiss the counterfeit incantation as a joke. Yet now, he clearly saw within the golden sword's slashes and thrusts a chain of runic patterns belonging to the "Vow of Triumph."

Though no mage, the Dragon Saint was confident he wasn't mistaken. While the runes flashing along Catherine's blade were more intricate and harmonious than typical "Vow of Triumph" patterns, their core sigils remained unchanged. So then...

"No wonder you've repeatedly claimed I'd die today. So this is the Vow of Triumph you've sworn..." The Dragon Saint chuckled coldly, deflecting Catherine's onslaught before adding, "Though the Oath of the Covenant is said to transform its wielder's fighting spirit into power, surpassing limits, the annals record many bearers who nonetheless perished. If this power could truly overturn strength and outcomes, you'd have long challenged Samantha, wouldn't you?"

Even as he spoke, the Dragon Saint dared not lower his guard, for he keenly perceived Catherine's power nearing ninety percent of her peak. Though both were "Vow of Triumph" effects, the runes from an epic divine weapon were incomparably stronger than those of counterfeits.

"Dragon Saint, do you know why past bearers of the Oath of the Covenant never used the Vow of Triumph? Because this vow is the sword's foundation. It isn't driven by the wielder—it only triggers when the wielder's fighting spirit reaches a certain extreme," Catherine said coldly during a tactical withdrawal. "Even I had never before reached this limit of resolve. But today, to protect my child, I wager my very existence to slay you here. My will has never been so adamantine."