After parting with Ouyang Tao, Deya felt deeply troubled.

He was her rival, yet when she heard he’d been attacked again in the hospital and gone missing, she’d felt a brief pang of sorrow. Don’t misunderstand—it wasn’t personal. She’d finally found a worthy opponent to test herself against. Now, with him gone, what was the point of her preparations?

But after confirming Ouyang Tao was fine, Deya felt no joy. Instead, she simmered with anger. "To brush off our rivalry so casually... Damn it..."

She could grumble like this alone, but face-to-face, she couldn’t argue back. His words made perfect sense.

Had she—and most of the Mechanical Department—been petty and narrow-minded all along? This wounded Deya’s pride and noble honor deeply.

Just then, a silver-haired girl approached slowly, head down, looking dejected. Her eyes were red-rimmed from crying. Deya felt she’d seen her before... Ah, right. Yesterday at the hospital—this was Ouyang Tao’s sister.

Seeing her state, she probably didn’t know her brother was safe. Deya couldn’t help but grumble inwardly: That idiot. Safe and sound, yet busy with nonsense. Couldn’t he notify his family first?

As they passed, Deya called out, "Hey, girl. Are you Ouyang Tao’s sister?"

"Huh?" Ouyang Xue stopped, looking at her in confusion. "You are...? You visited my brother yesterday..."

"Who I am doesn’t matter. Your brother’s at Field 4 up ahead. He said he’s waiting for someone."

"Eh? R-Really?" Ouyang Xue was both shocked and overjoyed. "But they said my brother... he..."

"Yeah. I was shocked too when I ran into him at the weapons testing ground. Someone must have rescued him from the hospital. He looked perfectly fine."

"Wow, that’s great!" Ouyang Xue burst into a smile, jumping with joy. "Oh, by the way, big sister, what’s your name?"

"I’m Deya."

"Thank you, Senior Deya! I’ll go find him now." With that, Ouyang Xue dashed off like the wind.

What a simple, lively sister. Her personality was far more endearing than Ouyang Tao’s, Deya thought as she continued walking.

Unbeknownst to her, danger awaited ahead.

Ouyang Tao sat cross-legged on the sports field, a powered cart full of weapons beside him. He munched dry rations, waiting for the masked figure—if it was who he thought, they’d return.

Though he’d prepared thoroughly, his heart pounded. This wasn’t a practice match; it was a real fight. Failure meant death.

"No, it won’t happen. I must live. I promised Senior Zhao Yuehan..." He repeated this silently, urging himself on.

Just then, a voice shattered his resolve.

"Brother!"

"Huh? A Xue? Whoa—!" Ouyang Xue tackled him to the ground without warning.

"Brother, why... why didn’t you tell me you were okay... where did you go... sob..." She cried into his chest, tiny fists pounding his body—not in blame, but in overwhelming relief.

Ouyang Tao’s heart ached. For two days straight, his sister had cried over him. He’d never seen her so heartbroken.

"There, there. It’s my fault. I should’ve told you right away." He had no mind for spectating now. "Have you had dinner?"

"Not yet."

"How about I make your favorite seafood risotto?"

"No, I don’t want food." She clung tightly to him. "Brother, don’t leave me again, okay?"

"Mm, I won’t. I promise..." He smiled wryly, gently stroking her back to calm her.

After a while, she finally settled. But she refused to part from him, so he agreed to let her stay another night.

Augustus College’s engineering team had restored his dorm to perfection. Just as he reached for the door, a nearby dormitory exploded. Flames burst from every window and door.

"Watch out!" Ouyang Tao shielded his sister—he knew the attacker was back. Unlike before, new blasts erupted nearby after the first explosion.

Clearly, this was battle. "A Xue, find a place to hide quickly!"

"Brother, what about you?"

"To help!" He cranked the cart’s power to max and raced toward the scene.

This time, the target was Deya.

The attack came as sudden explosions. Deya had just returned to her room, guard slightly down—it seemed like a perfect opportunity.

But as the Mechanical Department’s top student, she wasn’t easily ambushed. Sensing abnormal pressure, she reacted fast. Using nearby materials, she crafted a shield, blocking the first strike.

Then she saw the attacker—a masked man in flamboyant crimson classical attire. "Hmph. So you’re the culprit!"

He didn’t reply. He raised his hand, and crimson light shot out. Deya dodged nimbly, then grabbed a longsword from the rubble, blocking his second attack.

She wasn’t just a mechanical master postgraduate; she also minored in the Magic Sword Department. Beyond machinery, her combat strength was formidable.

Deya wasn’t content with just surviving. After being ambushed, she retaliated fiercely: "Don’t lump me with those useless guys! Take this!"

He didn’t dodge. He met her attack head-on. A red energy ball blocked her sword, then exploded violently, sending her flying. Seizing the chance, he transformed into red light and fled.

Just then, two blue-white lightning bolts shot from afar, colliding with the red light mid-air. It reverted to human form, landing hard.

"This time, you’re not going anywhere!" Ouyang Tao appeared, weapons ready.

"You... whatever. Thanks for stopping him." Deya emerged behind him, sword in hand.

"Hmph. Perfect..." Surrounded, the attacker showed no fear. He let out a low murmur.

He raised his hands, then slammed them down. A ring of fire, thirty meters wide, encircled them, blocking onlookers. "Die together..."

"If I must die, I need to know one thing first." Ouyang Tao cared more about truth than survival. "Is it really you, Edward?"

"Hmph. I didn’t expect you to figure it out..." The attacker sneered, slowly removing his mask.

It was Edward—but not the gentle, humble man Ouyang Tao knew. This face twisted with malice, wearing a headband—the Devil King Artifact, Lucifer’s Crown.

"How could it be him?!" Deya never expected Edward—the Mechanical Department’s dreamer and pushover—to appear like this.

But Ouyang Tao had pieced it together from Zhao Yuehan’s clues. He just hadn’t wanted it to be true...