So fast!

Tianshi'ao's pupils dilated as he quickly retreated, attempting to dodge the piercing Sword of North Dipper. He felt the cold light at his back, a chill almost seeping into his soul.

All along, in his understanding, Ye Xueya was known for using Illusion Technique, Source Substance applications, and Stigma combined to form Curses—in other words, a mage.

But now, Ye Xueya's swordsmanship had even shocked the Crow Tengu.

It wasn't that it was spectacularly brilliant, but it was like a dead nerd at a comic convention walking into the bathroom and seeing the Miss who had just posed for photos.

Why is she even faster than me!

But there wasn't enough time for him to react. The Ten Grip Sword blocked. A crack appeared on the blade of the Sword of North Dipper, but the bone-chilling cold, even through the Miracle Imprint, shook his soul, causing the Stigma of the Crow Tengu to split open.

Death's poison wrapped around him!

He stepped back, and in that single step, he regrouped, raising his Sword Blade to slash forward. But then he saw the Sword of North Dipper, so close it was almost within reach...

Too fast! Why is it this fast! Incomprehensible!

At the life-and-death juncture, Tianshi'ao had no time to think. His iron-like mind cast aside fear and hesitation, lashing out with a sword strike as if staking his life, ready to exchange blow for blow!

The Ten Grip Sword had slashed through Ye Xueya's form, which remained unharmed due to Reality Conversion, but its Divine Nature struck and wounded the North Dipper Stigma once more.

Ye Xueya's expression remained unchanged.

Yet Tianshi'ao let out a painful roar as one of the Crow Tengu's black wings severed at the root. The Tengu's wing was broken. The Stigma convulsed violently, barely able to support the burden of the Miracle Imprint.

This woman has completely lost her mind!

He finally saw the faintly glowing starlight beneath their feet. It was the light from countless shattered stars, but their orbits were no longer as they had been.

The Star Field shattered; Shin and Shang confronted each other!

The areas of Shin and Shang overlapped at this moment. No matter how he dodged, Ye Xueya was always within reach.

This was Fate's decree.

As if feeling no pain, Ye Xueya's face remained expressionless. She raised the Sword of North Dipper and struck again!

Tianshi'ao roared, lifting the Ten Grip Sword horizontally to block the descending North Dipper. But unexpectedly, he saw Ye Xueya's left hand, hidden behind her back, suddenly shoot out and press against his face.

In that last instant, he saw a brilliance of stars he had never witnessed in his life.

Her fingers suddenly tightened.

Blistering starlight shot out from the gaps between her fingers, engulfing the Crow Tengu's face with a purity that neared terror.

The Source Substance was rapidly depleting, like a waterfall.

A smile curled at the corners of Ye Xueya's lips as she smiled expectantly.

Precisely because the consumption was so fearsome, she hadn't had a chance to unleash this move since she pilfered it from the old man's pocket three years ago...

Now, supported by the Fourth Stage North Dipper, the Terrible Power inherited along the path of Sky's Command burst forth!

—Divine Application: Sirius Killer!

In an instant, Tianshi'ao screamed in agony, his entire face turning to charcoal.

The Stigma of the Crow Tengu was riddled with holes under the piercing, harsh starlight, severely wounded!

He howled, lifting the Ten Grip Sword in his agony, slashing down recklessly.

BOOM!

The blockade enveloping all of Ginza shattered in an instant. With his remaining single wing unfurled, he rose into the sky, not entertaining a single thought of counterattack, and whistled away.

He's escaped...

In the deadly silence, Ye Xueya stood quietly amidst the collapsed Mitsukoshi Great Building, watching his retreating figure. She scoffed disdainfully and sheathed the Sword of North Dipper.

Only now did the members from the Social Security Bureau, who hadn't dared show themselves from a distance, peek out.

Luo Shen, bolder than the rest, stepped forward to ask, "Boss, aren't we going to chase him?"

Ye Xueya glanced at him for a long while before hooking her finger, signaling him to come over. Luo Shen approached, confused.

What followed was Ye Xueya suddenly vomiting a large mouthful of blood. She leaned against the wall, supporting herself on his shoulder, and gasped for breath.

"Chase my ass! Do you really think I'm some indestructible Iron Giant?"

She raised her head, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead, "Lucky I scared him off. Otherwise, if he'd come to his senses and decided to fight me head-on, I would've been done for..."

No matter that we're all Fourth Stage, how could having a Miracle Imprint compare to having jack shit! Even a makeshift Miracle Imprint is still a Miracle Imprint.

Regardless of how tough Ye Xueya was, she hadn't dared let him land even two blows; scaring him off had been an outstanding performance.

It was all thanks to Stone Boat being naturally too cautious and suspicious, plus the significant psychological trauma she'd inflicted on him back then. Otherwise, today's performance would have been a complete flop.

Luo Shen thought for a moment. "Then should we pack up and run?"

Otherwise, if that guy comes to his senses and launches a Backfire, won't we be in trouble?

"Run? Why should we run?" Ye Xueya sneered, shaking her head, "From the moment he decided to run, he lost his chance to take me down with him."

The Divine Application from the Xuan Niao Secret, Sirius Killer... did he really think it was as simple as a slap on the face, casually over and done with? The North Dipper's ability to decree life and death, paired with such a Skill, can directly modify Fate!

She raised her eyes, glanced at the few stars intermittently visible amid the overhead clouds, and slowly shook her head.

"With Sirius Killer's three stars shining brightly, death is already written into his fate. No matter where he flees or whom he encounters, he's doomed."

As if declaring destiny itself, she nonchalantly wrote the ending for her enemy.

"—Shizhou and Light will definitely die today, die within Xiematai."

「.」

The Crow Tengu spread its wings, soaring high in the sky. It glided over a vast distance, only to fall powerlessly to the ground. Lying there, it spat out gleaming blood, its shattered face still bearing charred traces.

The Stigma trembled.

He suddenly realized that perhaps Ye Xueya was just trying to scare him. Perhaps if he turned around now, there was still time to kill Ye Xueya.

But what was the point? I've already lost. Just as she said, I was defeated by the grand scheme of things. Wielding a Miracle Imprint and still fighting so disgracefully... what face do I have to go back and keep pestering her?

Tianshi'ao leaned against a wall, struggling to mend his wounds, feeling a deep anger and shame welling up from within.

He was now too weak to sustain another Fourth Stage battle.

The curse of the stars, deep as bone marrow, entwined his Stigma, causing the Crow Tengu's wings to twitch in spasms. His broken face was a mask of ferocity and pain.

Just what kind of Divine Application was that? To even carry the effect of the Dongxia Genealogy's Miracle Imprint: Destiny Arrow Book?

No matter what, he had to rid himself of this curse first to have any chance of surviving; otherwise, he was sure to be tormented to death by it.

Trembling, he waved his hand, dispelling the fierce light of the Ten Grip Sword. He released his hold, allowing the Hachiman Bow to soar into the air and fly away on its own, disappearing under the call of some mysterious power.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

Even if I die here, the Hachiman Bow must not be lost.

Shortly after, two feathers emerged from where the Hachiman Bow had vanished, drifting down into Tianshi'ao's hands.

An aged voice rang in his ear—not the expected rebuke, but a sigh laden with worry. "Return safely, Tianshi'ao. Failure is not shameful," the voice said. "Don't die. Only the living have a future."

Tianshi'ao froze. After a long moment, he couldn't stop himself from kneeling. Astonishment struck him first, immediately followed by an indescribable self-blame, and tears streamed down his face.

"I will definitely not fail my master's teachings," he vowed.

Clenching his teeth, he wiped away the tears, tightly gripping the two precious feathers from his master—these were two chances, enough to guide him through this brush with certain death.

The two feathers settled on his temples. One flew out first, circling him a few times. It seemed to sense the fate entangling him, yet appeared unable to act against the certainty of his death.

Then, it ascended, guiding him far away.

Soon, in his desperate flight, that feather suddenly burned to ashes, its final embers pointing to a figure walking in a small alley.

Tianshi'ao's eyes widened.

As if afraid of being recognized, the person was shrouded in a black robe, even their face covered, not revealing a single inch of skin. He carried a huge pack on his back and held a map, seemingly searching for some place.

Guided by the feather, he instinctively sensed the other person's hidden aura, and also something concealed within their pack—That thing... it can save me!

On his shattered countenance, the Crow Tengu's surviving eye flashed with grim determination.

There's no need to cause extra trouble by tangling with that Sublimator. Grab the item and leave. I mustn't rashly start a fight.

Having made up his mind, the Crow Tengu, hidden behind the clouds, dove down, transforming into a silent black shadow plunging toward the mysterious person.

Swift as lightning.

But in that instant, as if sensing something, the mysterious figure abruptly turned, frowning beneath their mask.

He waved his hand.

From the air behind him, the outline of a Steel Giant suddenly emerged. It rose with its master, the iron mask covering its face swiftly unfolding as two sharp antennae extended to the sides.

Immediately after, the pure white Armor covering its entire body fiercely flipped open, revealing an unsettling, fiery crimson glow from within.

"OHHHHH~~~"

Amidst a bizarre, CLANGING and CHIMING melody, the chants of countless people erupted from speakers.

A flash of light shot from the Giant's eyes. The enormous Border Relic from Odaiba raised its hand, following its master's movements, and swatted forward.

Laplace's Algorithm: Autonomous assessment initiated. Scan complete. Calculation finished.

RX-0, Destructive mode initiated.

—Maximum output!

BOOM!

Like an iron wall sweeping across, it kicked up a furious squall. Amidst the thunderous roar, the attacking black shadow was blasted backward, vanishing instantly at the edge of the sky.

What the hell?

The mysterious person watched the black shadow get sent flying, perplexed. He shook his head in confusion. Whatever. Xiematai is crawling with overconfident attackers like that anyway...

He looked down at the marked position on the map, following the increasingly clear, gentle melody, and continued searching for the art gallery.

Behind him, the figure of the Steel Giant slowly dissipated, as if it had never appeared.

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