Facing the ferocious assault of Azure and the Calamity Dragon, Night Frost and Li Dogegg had given their all. Mana-depleted, Night Frost’s legs buckled slightly, and she knelt on the ground—her eyes heavy with exhaustion and quiet resignation.
Her Magic Armor lay in shards; wounds marked her skin plainly. Yet she gritted her teeth, refusing to fall. Her gaze lifted toward the sky, searching for a glimmer of hope. Beside her, Li Dogegg stood guard, eyes sharp, scanning for any sign of the Calamity Dragon’s next move.
The Calamity Dragon beat its wings, its colossal form twisting midair. The cannon barrel glowing coldly in its throat locked onto Night Frost below.
She felt the terrifying energy coalescing—hungry, imminent. Eyes shut tight, palm pressed over her heart, she drew a slow breath, reaching inward for that faint spark of strength.
Just as she opened her mouth to speak, a crisp, melodic voice rang out behind her. A girl’s finger tapped lightly above an open book—and the Magic Cannon hurtling toward Night Frost froze midair.
Night Frost blinked. *It stopped… before I even spoke?* No time to wonder. “Li Dogegg—get us clear of the blast zone!”
“What’s that?”
She turned. A tall silver-haired girl stood there. Familiar… yet Night Frost was certain she’d never seen her before.
*Only Order could halt a Magic Cannon like that.*
The answer clicked.
*Time.*
Illusory Glass’s memory overlapped with the girl before her: silver hair, glass-like eyes, the clock-engraved book.
“Are you… Illusory Glass?” Night Frost whispered.
This version looked nothing like the girl from minutes ago.
“Post-unlock form,” the girl said calmly. “I pulled my future self here. Better for battle.”
*So Chapter Three grants this? Borrowing from the future?*
“Can I do it too?”
“Technically, yes. But I don’t recommend borrowing from past or future. What’s taken must be repaid.”
*Repaid?*
Night Frost’s thoughts surged. Crimson’s collapse—it all made sense now. Her spell had drawn from both temporal ends: past strength borrowed, future strength overdrawn. The cost? A future self, mid-battle, suddenly hollowed out.
She shook her head hard.
The girl giggled, hand over her mouth. “Kidding! Mine isn’t borrowing—it’s projecting past/future echoes onto the body. Weaker than Crimson’s method, but far safer.”
Relief washed over Night Frost. Illusory Glass placed a hand on her shoulder. Clock hands on the book spun counterclockwise; pages rustled forward.
“I’ll pull your projection from four days ago.”
A hazy silhouette shimmered before her. Night Frost’s fingertips brushed it—and depleted mana flooded back.
“One hour max on others. Stronger targets = shorter duration. Watch the clock.”
Night Frost’s eyes narrowed, calm and resolute. Firelight glinted in her gaze.
“Round three begins now.”
While Night Frost clashed with the Calamity Dragon, Li Dogegg sought Illusory Glass. “Accelerate my personal timeline. Skip my juvenile stage.”
She summoned Moon Owl. A pocket dimension formed. Li Dogegg vanished inside. Time within surged tens of thousands of times faster.
Minutes later—the space shattered. Li Dogegg shot out, adjusted course midair, and dove straight for the dragon.
The Calamity Dragon twisted, cannon glowing—but its focus remained locked on Night Frost. Li Dogegg seized the opening: beak flared like a blade, piercing the scale-less neck. Flesh tore. A bloody chunk flew up—and vanished down its throat.
Warmth bloomed in its gut. Its aura swelled. Hunger roared through it, primal and vast.
*Minutes ago, I was tiny. Now…*
It had just brushed Chapter Three’s threshold. One step remained: consume its former self entirely.
Night Frost fell back beside it. Through their familiar bond, she *knew*—this massive wyvern *was* Li Dogegg. Its deep blue hue had vanished, replaced by night-black scales gleaming with eerie luster. A transformation born of devouring the dragon’s flesh.
“We go now!”
Li Dogegg dodged a Magic Cannon blast, slammed into the dragon like black lightning. Azure, perched on its back, swayed wildly.
Before she steadied—Night Frost appeared. Crimson Gold Lance gripped tight, eyes eagle-sharp. The spear whistled through air, driving straight for Azure’s arm.
Azure twisted, aiming the dragon’s abyssal maw at her.
But Li Dogegg clung like an unshakable shadow—claws raking the dragon’s hide beneath her.
The Calamity Dragon whimpered, then *charged back*, defying Azure. *No lesser monster tramples my dignity!*
Night Frost pressed the spear to Azure’s face. Steel bit flesh—but bone held firm.
“Black Flame!”
Inky fire crawled up the lance, engulfing Azure. It seared flesh and bone alike. A shriek tore from her throat; her body convulsed. Even her bones turned brittle under the blaze.
“Don’t forget,” Azure gasped, “even weakened… I am still the Ultimate.”
Her free hand ripped open her own abdomen—intestines and stomach torn free.
“Merge with me!”
From a crack in the Order Keeper’s tower, the organ behind District 15’s corrosive acid rain shot forth.
*Flip.* Illusory Glass pinned it midair with a page-turn. A hand emerged from the void, snatched the organ, and hurled it into nothingness.
“You can’t hold it long. I’ve got this.”
Moon Owl stepped out, crowned in jet-black. Illusory Glass lunged into her arms.
“If you were still tiny,” Moon Owl murmured, “I’d hug you gladly. But now…” She ruffled the girl’s hair, bemused. *Time really is miraculous.*
“No… this is unfair! I—”
Night Frost seized Azure’s throat, yanked her up, stripped the device from her thigh, and hurled her down. Black Flame erupted from the spear—consuming her in an instant.
“Hope the underworld isn’t too comfortable for you.”
Bones creaked in the flames. Night Frost watched, unblinking, guarding against any trick of revival.
Li Dogegg tore through the Calamity Dragon’s core, shredding its device. The beast collapsed like mud, motionless.
No guilt shadowed Li Dogegg as it devoured its former shell. Under Illusory Glass’s temporal blessing, body and consumed flesh fused—seamlessly ascending to Chapter Three.
