“This is…”

The moment Yumigawa Senki sensed the magic domain shift, her lazy calm froze like winter glass. “Not good—it's a strike at soul and mind.”

“Heh-heh-heh, hahahaha… Too late to notice. Come, savor it.” Tissia’s delight rang like cold bells in a storm.

“Damn—I got careless.” Regret pricked like thorns as pressure closed in from all sides, deep-sea weight grinding on her spirit.

“Fine then, no choice—Sacred Life Sword.” She shot Tissia a lightning glare and unleashed the blade, teal light blooming like spring over ice.

This was Tissia’s domain, enemy turf, a den of wolves in mist. Once burned, Senki wouldn’t risk slack. She’d go all out and end it with her strongest cut.

“What—what is this power?!” Panic flared in Tissia’s eyes like sparks in dry hay.

The Sacred Life Sword lit the whole domain, teal dawn breaking over a false sky. Tissia felt it—life energy vast as oceans, cracking her domain like drying clay.

“Ahhh! Is everyone in the Mizumi Clan a monster?! That woman’s near Divine Realm already, and that sword—what is that? It’s beyond top-grade artifacts!”

“Hey, don’t call me a monster just because talent and steel line up. You’re a frog in a well; the world teems with freakish prodigies.” Senki’s voice cut like a clean wind.

She raised the teal blade, calm as a lake, and leveled the tip at Tissia. “Your backers—Dark Demon, right? A third-rate outfit daring to provoke the Mizumi Clan? That’s suicide.”

“What?! How can you call Dark Demon third-rate? We’re the second greatest force in the world!” Tissia’s anger flushed like wildfire under snow.

“Second greatest? Don’t make me laugh.” Senki’s smile held winter frost. “One faction—god-kin, demon-kin, Dragon Kin, or Elven Kind—could wipe you out.”

“You…” Tissia’s words fell apart like wet paper. It was true; their ‘second place’ was self-proclaimed, scorned by powers like the Elven Kind and Dragon Kin.

Senki didn’t care for her feelings. “Look at your staff; that shows Dark Demon’s poverty. And you claim not to be third-rate?”

“Poor? This staff is a mid-grade artifact! How is that poor?!” Tissia’s frustration chewed like grit between teeth.

“You treat a mid-grade artifact like a jewel?” Senki’s disdain was sharp as sleet. “In the Mizumi Clan it’s not even fit to be trash, yet you cradle it like treasure.”

“What a boast. Mid-grade artifacts not even trash? You’re lying.” Tissia’s denial wavered like smoke.

“What do I gain by lying?” Senki’s tone was steady as stone. “Artifacts take god-tier materials and a Heart of Law. Grade depends on how condensed that heart is. On the Central Continent, how many god-tier materials? How many who can condense a Heart of Law? Count them—me, I can’t.” Her words fell like pebbles in a still pond, rippling truth.

“What…” Blood sprayed from Tissia’s lips, anger breaking like a dam. She’d suffered to get that mid-grade staff, only to have Senki call it less than trash.

“Mhm. Miss Xinuo was right—sometimes a clan’s weight alone crushes an enemy.” Senki watched Tissia’s drained face, her thoughts quiet as falling ash.

“Enough chatter. Time to end this farce.” She shook her head, then the Sacred Life Sword swept, soft as a breeze, hard as fate.

“Break—Time-Space Sword: Shatter All.” The teal blade sang, and the magic domain shattered like green glass under a hammer.

The world snapped back—a plaza, now a battlefield, dust drifting like tired snow.

“No wonder the Mizumi Clan stands tall for a thousand years.” Tissia, pale as paper, managed a wry smile. “Oppose them, and you’re courting death.”

Her brittle smile and those words, set against a plaza littered like a war zone, cast a sorrow that hung like dusk fog.

“Shame you learned too late. I won’t kill you; we’ve no deep grudge.” Senki’s voice was cool rain after thunder.

She turned away from the fading Tissia and took stock, mind moving like abacus beads. “With the Sacred Life Sword active, I can hold for about half an hour. The Emperor’s side should be fine. Littlesky has Elyar—no need to worry. That leaves Eastern Moon Aixue’s group…”

She glanced toward Eastern Moon Aixue, gaze cutting through smoke like a hawk’s. “Yikes—grim.”

“Dark Demon fielded a Sacred Realm high-tier demon summoner, plus a Holy Peak demon and an undead. On Eastern Moon Aixue’s side, two Sacred Realm novices, a Sacred Realm mid-stage peak swordmaiden, and a newly advanced mid-stage sound mage. No way—I have to help. They’re about to buckle.”

“Wind Enhancement—Wings of the Wind God.” Wind unfurled behind her like jade feathers, and she shot forward, a teal streak across the battered square.

“Heh… she clearly doesn’t see me as a threat.” Watching Senki’s receding silhouette, Tissia gave a bitter smile that flickered like a dying candle, then collapsed into darkness.