"You... must be Yedie Snow."
Behind the Crimson Baroness, wings several meters long unfurled—ink-black like a demon's, swallowing moonlight.
So the rumors were right. The Baroness carried demon blood.
"That's me."
The silver-haired girl cupped her hands toward the Crimson Baroness, who hovered above with her fan, calm as still water.
"Excellent... then my Paradise gains another favored thrall."
"I think the Elven Kingdom’s prison could use another cell too."
"Ha! If you’ve got the nerve... come and try."
The Crimson Baroness clenched her palm. Several black diamond blades rose behind her, carved in ornate filigree—thorned roses twining a half-buried cross, gorgeous and cruel.
...
"Master, we’re sorry! We didn’t take them down!"
"Ugh... give me a bit more time. I can beat this old man!"
Seeing their master arrive, the Sea Sword Princess and the black-robed loli fought with renewed ferocity.
"It’s fine. The more the prey struggles, the sweeter the hunt."
Her diamond blades stretched, thinning into needle-like spikes that ripped the night. Wind howled as they lunged for Dixue.
At the same time, Dixue raised her bow. Silver-white light flared, no weaker than those black lances.
A white ray and a black ray crashed in midair. A shockwave rolled out, and the trees of Falls Gorge shivered.
(LittleSnow!)
Yue Liuyi moved to aid, but Dixue’s voice rang in her heart, holding her back.
(Little Moon, don’t move!)
"Huh?"
(It’s not her true skill. Watch for the trick!)
"Got it!"
Sure enough, the Crimson Baroness’s blades seemed aimed at Yedie Snow, yet several black lances had already shifted toward the other adventurers.
Well-versed in the art of breaking people, the Crimson Baroness knew how to handle "good-hearted" types like Yedie Snow—cut down her companions, and panic follows.
With hostages, threat or taunt works wonders.
But the Baroness didn’t expect... Dixue’s arrow wasn’t aimed at her either. It targeted the black-robed loli.
The silver-haired girl loosed without mercy. Silver radiance swelled at the arrowhead, a meteor tearing the Milky Way, streaking for the loli.
Most would hesitate at a small girl like that. Dixue didn’t flinch.
Little Black crouched on a mechanical leopard, tangled with Chulei and the Elven Guards, oblivious to the arrow knifing for her back.
"Huh?"
"Interesting! Dixue! I want you even more!"
Laughing, the Crimson Baroness swung her blades. They skated off, just barely intercepting Dixue’s arrow.
"Hesitate, and you lose."
The silver-haired girl lifted her bow again. This time, she aimed at the Sea Sword Princess.
"W-We’ve become a burden to our master?"
They looked like equals at the master tier, yet the Sea Sword Princess finally felt the dread of the silver-haired girl. While locked with Duanmu Liang, a chill crawled up her back. Her heart felt already pierced.
"You really are clever, Yedie Snow."
The Crimson Baroness did value her thralls. The queen in night-wings spread wide, turning every blade to seal off Dixue’s shots.
Dixue and the Crimson Baroness were fully engaged now, both striking with all they had. The barrage roared like a meteor shower, blossoms of fire cracking the sky with booms.
Of course, battles between women weren’t just blades. The barbs were part of the dance.
"What should I train you into? A maid serving her master... or a bunny girl in my Paradise casino?"
"Sorry. Your kind of old hag? Not my taste."
"But I love it—watching the once-proud Butterfly Snow President become my thrall. It feels wonderful."
"Shut up, old woman! Menopause got you chasing these weird kinks? Disgusting."
"Ha... still a hard mouth. Will you be that hard in bed?"
"When you’re locked up, you’ll be the one begging."
She talked big, but Dixue knew catching the Crimson Baroness now was hard. Their strength was close. It was their first clash. She didn’t know the Baroness’s hole cards.
Worse, the real power hadn’t come out yet—
After more than ten exchanges, the Crimson Baroness finally stopped holding back. From the folds of her onyx gown, she drew a black staff.
"This is..."
"Dixue, submit to me. Let’s conquer the Elven Kingdom together."
"Sorry. Your delusions don’t interest me."
Dixue watched the staff. Its look was plain, like trinkets hawked at a street stall... yet a sinister chill coiled off it.
"Then try this—Umbral Space!"
The Crimson Baroness raised the staff high. The essence of magic in the air seemed siphoned dry, streaming into that black rod.
"Huh? Everyone... careful!"
"What?"
"Master’s actually using...?"
"Yield, my darlings."
Yue Liuyi stared, aghast, as palpable darkness boiled from the Crimson Baroness’s staff.
The next heartbeat, the girl’s world turned pitch black. Her sight was swallowed by shadow.
