Azure extended a hand. A mana-formed palm swept over the Spatial Box, slotting a Magic Stone into her Wand and onto her thigh. She aimed the Wand at the charging Zone Fifteen Guardian. With the sharp *crack* of shattering stones, magic bullets shot straight for the Guardian’s face.

“Splitting Bullets.”

As Azure’s words landed, the bullets about to strike split—one volley veering toward Night Frost, the other pressing forward.

Empowered by Azure’s Ultimate strength, even these split projectiles now carried lethal force. Though clad in wind-woven armor, the Zone Fifteen Guardian was forced to halt under the relentless barrage, swinging wind blades to deflect every shot.

Night Frost materialized beside the Guardian, gripping the Crimson Gold Lance. With a beat of her dragon wings, she closed the distance to Azure in a flash. Before Azure could reload the Magic Cannon, the spear was already descending.

The Guardian of the Seventh District flashed in front of Azure. As allies, she couldn’t stand by and watch Azure fall to Night Frost and the Zone Fifteen Guardian.

Azure’s combat style had limits: reloading Magic Stones took time, and her internal mana had a hard cap. Even having attained the Ultimate Realm, she still needed distance to survive heavy assaults.

The Zone Fifteen Guardian landed beside Night Frost. Sensing something off, she held back. In her memory, Azure was far stronger—no way she’d be overwhelmed by just the two of them.

Yet to their perception, Azure had already poured everything out. No hidden reserves left.

“I remember now!” The Zone Fifteen Guardian’s eyes widened. That acid rain—why did Azure’s lack its corrosive bite? It was meant to dissolve even mana! And she’d used its vessel to step into the Ultimate Realm. Weak or not, unable to trigger Forbidden Release or not—she was still of the Ultimate Realm.

“So… she never truly fused with the organ,” Night Frost murmured. “She only borrowed a fraction of its power. Her life essence reached Ultimate level, but the mana she wields falls far short?”

Glancing at the crater on the ground, Night Frost recalled Azure’s earlier full-power shot. A little stronger, and evasion would’ve been impossible.

“It’s not the same,” the Zone Fifteen Guardian countered. “The Mud King simply doesn’t know how to use his power—he’d learn mid-battle. But Azure lacks the conditions to wield it. She forced her way into the Ultimate Realm first, then plans to strengthen herself gradually.”

Put plainly: Azure’s innate mana output was low. Though her body now held mana and Abyssal Aura, the amount she could channel each time remained limited. An inborn weakness. Like unused muscles wasting from neglect.

But Azure could still grow. Truly step into the Ultimate.

…Though their real threat now stood before her: the living, breathing Guardian of the Seventh District. Not some corpse from the Abyssal Rift.

“Can… you win?”

“No.” Night Frost’s reply was blunt. She’d touched Ultimate, yes—but true Ultimate? No. She might trade two blows. After that? Her head would roll.

The rational choice: tear a spatial rift and flee while the Blood Cup’s effect held. Or die gloriously fighting two Ultimates.

“You go. I have no choice. Today, only one side walks away—Zone Fifteen’s people, or her.” The Zone Fifteen Guardian wouldn’t retreat. Azure held her district’s survivors hostage.

“No. She’s not leaving.” Azure’s voice drifted from behind the Seventh District Guardian.

“Release her, and I’ll free every soul in Zone Fifteen. I swear on the gods…”

The Zone Fifteen Guardian turned to Night Frost. A chill shot down Night Frost’s spine—Azure was sowing discord. But she wasn’t worried. Their contract forbade harm.

*Whoosh.* A sudden gust of wind pressure. Night Frost whipped out the Crimson Gold Lance, clashing against the invisible Wind King Barrier.

*The contract failed?* Impossible. She still felt its binding. So… *pretending?*

Night Frost narrowed her eyes. Black Flame coated the lance, crawling along the barrier, tracing the outline of the Guardian’s blade. As the lance swung, the flames coalesced into a dragon and lunged for her neck.

Meanwhile, Azure reloaded. She had to eliminate Night Frost fast—both Guardians were within her grasp.

“Black Dragon, this shall be your grave!”

“Saturation Barrage—”

Weaker than the Six-Color Forbidden Solo, yet far beyond ordinary. Clashing with the Wind King Barrier, Night Frost pushed off backward to evade the monochrome blast.

But behind her surged a wave of Abyssal Aura. Giant scissors materialized in the Seventh District Guardian’s palm, stabbing for Night Frost’s heart. Night Frost’s eyes sharpened—she tore a spatial rift. The scissors pierced empty air.

Another rift tore open beside the Guardian. The same scissors thrust out from the other side.

She yanked her arm back, dissipating the force. To be pierced by her own weapon through her Magic Layer? Absurd.

She studied Night Frost. Impressive reaction under two Ultimates’ assault.

…Though truthfully, Night Frost hadn’t reacted fast enough. The rift hadn’t fully opened. *Someone helped.* Who wielded spatial magic here?

Her gaze locked on Moon Owl. Behind her, the Guardian of the Third District looked pale—she’d amplified Moon Owl the moment the attack came.

Thanks to that aid, the rift opened just in time. A second slower, and Night Frost’s heart would’ve fled her chest.

Moon Owl signaled the Third District Guardian to stand down, then dove into a freshly torn rift.

Moon Owl’s spatial dagger clashed with the scissors. Night Frost thrust her spear—Black Flame racing up the blade, fiery Array Patterns igniting as it stabbed into the rift.

The Seventh District Guardian tried to retreat—but her foot was trapped. The spear hadn’t aimed for her waist. *Her leg.*

Azure launched faster-than-usual bullets. Even with Moon Owl preemptively opening rifts, some slipped through.

Moon Owl vanished back into space. Night Frost’s spear missed. Positions swapped: Night Frost and Moon Owl now stood where Azure and the Seventh District Guardian had been; the Zone Fifteen Guardian was left behind Azure.

*Perfect.*

Today, she falls.

Moon Owl ripped through the void. Night Frost charged, aura surging, the Black Dragon’s phantom merging with her form.

Azure frowned. A sudden frontal assault? No trick? *Moon Owl?* A feint to draw attention while Moon Owl ambushed? Flawed… but desperate.

Moon Owl’s blade stabbed Azure’s back—blocked by the Guardian’s barrier. Then it tore through space again, bypassing the Abyssal Aura shield, leaving a bloody gash.

Not for lack of intent. Azure had barely reacted in time. That slash was Moon Owl’s limit.

“Losing focus isn’t good…” Moon Owl vanished.

And the Black Dragon—*Night Frost*—arrived.

A torrent of Black Flame engulfed them. Scorching heat washed over Azure before the living flames swallowed her, gnawing at her Magic Layer, clawing inward.

Even the Seventh District Guardian had to reinforce her Abyssal Aura. *These flames threaten Ultimates.*

“Beware Moon Owl!”

As Moon Owl unleashed spatial mana against the flames, the two guarding Azure never saw the invisible gust rising behind them.

“Lift restrictions! Stack Magic Armor!”

“O Starry Deity, cast Your gaze! Let the star-river pave the path, stars become lamps to the unknown hall… At this moment… FORBIDDEN RELEASE!”

“Divine mercy, Magic Armor Sacrifice!”

“Great Deity, grant Your decree! Star-river forges the hall, lamps pave the stairs, offering desire and earth’s blood… FORBIDDEN RELEASE NOW!”

“Wind!! With boundless power, tear the spatial rift! Freeze eternity in an instant—unleash Your fury upon the world… ROAR OF THE RAGING WIND. Βρυχηθμός του ανέμου”