Due to the immense gravitational pull moments ago, the cracked earth shattered the surface runes, dispelling the Mist Formation. Everyone could now clearly see one another inside the formation—and the world beyond.

Night Frost had no time for the broken formation. Startled, she instantly dropped into a combat stance. The Spatial Box wouldn’t burst open for no reason—either Azure had set a trap before “dying,” or she never died at all. Night Frost leaned hard toward the latter.

As expected, Azure, who had lain motionless on the ground, slowly pushed herself up. The flesh between her brows was shredded by Crimson’s wooden carving, revealing a pinkish skull where bloodied tissue and white bone intertwined.

Though interrupted, that strike from Crimson’s carving was no weak blow—even Night Frost wouldn’t dare take it head-on, let alone Azure in her prior state. Yet the truth stood before her: Azure had blocked it… with her own skull.

“Are your bones also part of that so-called divine power?”

Night Frost stepped back twice—but a crushing pressure surged toward her. Its source? Azure, eyes now open, a faint trace of anger on her face as she spoke low and calm:

“You’re impressive. To push me this far… you should be proud.”

Azure had replaced her bones with divine ones. If she could, she’d have borrowed the power instead of appropriating it. Every act of appropriation carried a price—but compared to dying by Night Frost’s hand, it was a light cost.

Empowered by both appropriation and blessing, Azure now truly matched an Ultimate Realm expert like the Guardian of the Seventh District. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a spare wand buried in the sand.

“This is what I’ve longed for… Pity it isn’t mine.”

Azure’s gaze pierced through the sandstorm’s gaps, fixed on the distant heavens—as if seeing through time itself. The stolen power raged within her, fusing with the blessing to forge her current invincible form.

The spare wand glowed with eerie azure light, brimming with mana. From its tip, high above, Magic Cannons rained down like a storm.

Watching the radiant barrage descend, Night Frost braced herself. Who knew Azure—the enemy—would suddenly power up? For a heartbeat, Night Frost felt like the villain meant to fall before the protagonist.

But damn it—*she* was the protagonist!

“Black Flame, Array Pattern blessing!”

Pitch-black flames erupted across Night Frost’s body, replacing the glowing patterns. She spread her arms. Wooden carvings materialized midair: a scale-covered serpent, a pterodactyl-like monster with a sharp beak, a colossal whale. Most were monsters she’d faced—humans were harder to carve, after all!

Behind her, the translucent figure of the Elderly Elf hovered quietly. She channeled his formation knowledge; maintaining this scale alone was impossible.

Magic Cannons struck the carvings—*BOOM!*—shattering them one by one. Their Array Patterns flickered transparent under the assault. Even with her blessing, they couldn’t hold. Dust scattered into the wind.

These took her *days* to carve! If they had to die, at least *do something*!

Night Frost commanded them. Several shot toward Azure—and detonated on contact, unleashing Black Flame.

Her hidden trump card. She’d noticed Azure’s group feared this flame. For three days, she’d woven a simplified version of the Array Pattern—her father’s seal for the Order Gemstone—into every carving.

The Black Flame surged like a caged beast finally freed. It churned in the air, radiating terrifying heat. Its deep, void-like hue swallowed all light around it—only the flames danced, fierce and absolute.

Azure dodged deftly. Eliminate Night Frost, and the flames would fade.

Light flared from Azure’s wand. Night Frost’s condensed black spear deflected the Magic Cannon—but shattered instantly. A numbing jolt shot up her arm. She staggered back.

In a flash, Azure appeared before her. Fast—but Night Frost’s nerves kept pace.

Azure’s mana-charged fist met Night Frost’s black-scaled claw. *Foolish*, Night Frost thought. *Confidence from those “divine bones”?*

Her claw tore the air with cold gleam—agile, ruthless. Azure moved with refined precision, sliding up Night Frost’s arm, using momentum to hurl her away.

Her motions were sharper now. Night Frost’s eyes followed… but her body lagged. For the first time, she was losing ground.

*To win…*

Night Frost breathed deep. She didn’t want to die here—but this opponent always pulled something from the abyss.

“Formation, reverse course!”

Gripping the array disc, she drained the Magic Tool’s core. Ethereal patterns swirled—countless hands reaching for them both.

Azure swung her wand. The hands barely wavered. Only when they touched her—and *took* something—did she realize: this formation targeted spirit and soul.

And it didn’t spare Night Frost either.

“Why not activate it sooner?”

If she had… Azure might’ve fallen earlier. Or worse.

“Didn’t have the capability, alright?” Night Frost gritted. She’d poured everything into sustaining the formation, leaning on the Elderly Elf’s carving. Now she shattered its foundation—for one last gamble.

“This is *my* arena. Only one walks out. Let’s duel… in the soul realm!”

Azure remained unmoved. Advantage was hers. Why step into a spiritual trap?

“Fine. Knew you wouldn’t surrender.”

*Typical novel logic?* Antagonists “lose IQ,” accept the duel, slip up, get reversed. But this one? No.

Predictable. With the upper hand, why give it up?

“Down you go—*now*!”

Night Frost clamped Azure’s shoulders. Silver threads wove into a colossal hand, slamming them into the sea of grasping palms. Azure fought the pull—useless. They sank like stones in a tidal wave.

Space twisted. Hands emerged—bone-pale, scale-armored, wreathed in azure fire.

“Welcome… to our new battlefield.”

Outside the formation, their bodies crashed onto the earth. Spirits and souls—dragged deep within.

“Foolish.”

The Guardian of the Seventh District pressed her assault, gaze locked across the field. Since Azure accidentally broke the Mist Formation, she and Crimson saw everything clearly.

“Azure is a Seeker. Spiritually superior. With Ultimate power… Night Frost is dead.”

Crimson’s face held no worry. She knew Night Frost’s plan. A gamble—but the only path to victory.

“No one wins alone, Azure. We were once like you. Now you’re the dragon… and Night Frost, the slayer.”

Crimson murmured, palm tightening. Ultimate rhythm erupted from her wand’s Magic Stone, pinning the Guardian deep into the soil. Slight edge? Yes. But without trump cards, victory wouldn’t come fast.

*Let the plan succeed.* That was all she could pray.

…

“The end is here.”

The Guardian of the Fourth District landed before the flickering formation. Fingertips brushed the Array Patterns. She didn’t understand them—but instinct pinpointed the critical node. Destroy it, and Night Frost’s scheme collapses.

“I won’t let you touch it.”

The Guardian of Zone Fifteen descended, battered but standing firm behind the Wind King Barrier.

“I guessed right. You couldn’t stay neutral.”

“Heh.”

Chains slid from the Fourth District Guardian’s back. She laughed—soft, mocking herself.

“I admit… you’re right.”