Half an hour earlier, Purple Lightning and Zhao Qingsnow smashed through the window, landing on the cold floor of District Twenty One’s branch. After a quick scan, Purple Lightning led Zhao Qingsnow down the stairs, step by step.

This scene felt oddly familiar.

Zhao Qingsnow pressed her fingers against the icy Obsidian Stone wall. *Would that troublesome laser beam wait just around the corner?*

True to her suspicion, a condensed Mana beam materialized ahead—effortlessly slicing through the Magic Layer. It seemed she and Purple Lightning would silently agree: combine forces to break through.

“I think I know what to do,” Purple Lightning murmured, glancing at Zhao Qingsnow. She, too, felt a strange déjà vu. *I’ll free the Black Market members… then meet the darkness-wielding girl at the turn.*

Rescuing others felt wasteful. Only the Old Woman mattered as a combat asset—and freeing her wouldn’t take long. Even with Lauen the lockpicker, moving fast meant minimal delay.

“You’ve seen this too? But none of this happened before.”

Time rewind? Or illusion?

Zhao Qingsnow knew: if time had reversed, it linked to Illusory Glass—the time-controlling Magic Maiden adopted by Moon Owl. She’d fallen comatose because of the Seeker and Chapter Three. Finding a way to revive her was why they came to District Twenty One. If this *was* a rewind… something happened to Illusory Glass. But if illusion—why did it feel so real?

Together, they shattered the laser barrier. First attempt, yet flawless—as if practiced countless times.

Purple Lightning reached Lauen’s cell first, broke it open, rescued the Old Woman, and ordered Lauen to stay. “We—or the Black Market boss—will extract you later.”

Rushing back, Purple Lightning and the Old Woman met Zhao Qingsnow outside the laser zone. Following her lead, the trio sprinted upstairs. No darkness-wielding Magic Maiden this time. Skipping other rescues saved critical seconds.

They reached the lab. Only Zhao Qingsnow recognized the scene—deepening her certainty: *I’ve lived this before.*

The Mana barrier ahead was set by Chapter Three. Two might struggle; three guaranteed success. “Attack together!” Zhao Qingsnow urged.

*Crack!* The barrier shattered. The pure white Magic Stone’s rhythm pulsed outward. Each saw their long-sealed door. Entry into Chapter Three was now certain.

Zhao Qingsnow explained: the stone belonged to Kaneko. Purple Lightning finally understood Kaneko’s power—it held a trace of the Ultimate’s rhythm.

Purple Lightning halted the machine, pressed the stone into Kaneko’s chest. Its regenerative energy stabilized her. Life no longer in danger.

Mission half-complete.

A deafening explosion rocked the building. Dust clouds blotted out the moon.

The black-robed woman raised her arm slowly. Where her dull eyes fell, magical bullets swept. Stiff movements—like a puppet.

Behind her stood four Chapter Threes, including District Twenty One’s Guardian. All defensive. None dared advance.

*How could they fight this?*

They’d seen the giant brain burrow into her skull. She was controlled.

Fragments of memory surfaced—hazy, yet real upon seeing that brain.

This enemy wielded Ultimate secrets. That brain rivaled Ultimate power. Push her? She’d ascend to the Ultimate Realm—and erase them effortlessly.

They feared death. Most Chapter Threes were aged veterans who merely looked young. Limited lifespans meant guarding borders, hunting weaker Monsters—not this.

“Aren’t you the Guardian? Go!” one urged.

The Guardian stared at the black-robed woman. *No way I’m stepping forward.*

“I can’t. You’re here already… why not team up?” she suggested weakly.

All three refused. None faced Ultimate-powered fury.

But the black-robed woman’s gloomy gaze locked onto them. Silence fell.

She chanted a Magic Spell. Dragged the massive Eye Orb. It melted. As her true name echoed—Ertis stepped once more into the Ultimate Realm.

Ultimate Realm: coveted, near-unattainable. Witnessed twice in one day.

This time, Ertis’s aura surged stronger—perhaps the brain sharpened her Mana control.

A sleeve flick. A storm hurled the four Chapter Threes backward. Her eyes fixed on them.

No choice now…

*Run!*

They scattered. The Guardian sprinted toward the branch. *If I master the stone’s rhythm… ascend… I might stand a chance.*

Relief: Ertis chased the others.

“You… I know you.”

Returning, the Guardian spotted a Magic Maiden weaving through shadows—a top-tier District Twenty One operative.

“Guardian, the branch was breached,” the girl reported. “Black Market boss provoked them; Zhao Qingsnow and Purple Lightning handled the rescue.”

The Guardian’s heart sank. She raced to the top floor.

Confirmed: Kaneko gone. Magic Stone gone.

*Of course. Time rewound once—they found the shortcut. The Old Woman’s rescued too.*

Fury erupted. She slammed a fist into the wall. *That stone was my path to Ultimate… stolen.*

Thieves! Robbers!

District Twenty One would fall because of them!

But they couldn’t be far.

The Guardian shot skyward, tapped her brow, and scanned the entire district.

A Guardian’s gift: Mana radiating city-wide, eyes seeing all, reaching any point in moments.

She spotted Zhao Qingsnow fleeing with Kaneko. She gave chase—leaving the Magic Maiden alone, idly rolling a ball of darkness.

*Left behind again…*

The girl walked to the window. Gloomy sky flashed—brilliant firelight three times, fading fast.

The last flash neared the branch. Using sharp night vision, she saw clearly:

Ertis, elegant gown contrasting puppet-like motions, clutched another girl. *The neighboring district’s Guardian—TV-famous.* Now helpless in her palm, like a chick.

*A Chapter Three!*

No wonder the Guardian fled back.

Crushing a Chapter Three so easily… power far beyond Chapter Three. She’d read it: Chapter Three wasn’t the end.

*Find shelter. Underground.*

Below, Purple Lightning and the Old Woman, with Lauen, unlocked cells. The crowd followed them to the laser wall—guided through just as before.

Zhao Qingsnow took Kaneko first. Rendezvous set. Purple Lightning and the Old Woman stayed.

Lauen moved cautiously—but luck failed. The descending Magic Maiden appeared again.

Scythe raised—

Purple Lightning and the Old Woman burst from the crowd. *After this long? Of course she’d come. We planned for it.*

“So you never left… Heh. Don’t blame me for being ruthless,” the girl sneered.

Scythe swung—

Purple lightning erupted from the floor, coiling into chains around her ankles and wrists. Her strike froze mid-air. Purple Lightning drove a sharp punch into her stomach.

Gritting her teeth, she shattered the chains and melted into darkness.

But soil chunks rained from above. Light flooded down, scattering the shadows.

Last timeline: she’d destroyed the lights. Not this time. The Old Woman had buried them beforehand.

The tangled timelines tricked her. Zhao Qingsnow’s trio exploited that blind spot perfectly.

Purple Lightning snatched the glowing shadow orb. Purple lightning wrapped it tight.

Checkmate!