Magma was a mixture containing three crucial elements for materials: silicon, aluminum, and iron. Together, they made up nearly forty percent of its composition, alongside almost all trace elements needed for alloys.
As a fundamental skill for a Mechanical Mage, refining and purifying elements from mixtures was essential. Ouyang Tao poured all his mana into transforming the magma below into raw materials.
"Deya, the materials are ready—hurry!"
"Damn, how didn’t I think of that?" Deya regretted not realizing it sooner. Mineral veins formed from concentrated magma, after all. But now wasn’t the time. "Instant Alchemy!"
Deya used every bit of Ouyang Tao’s refined materials in one breath. Instantly, she constructed two Mechs. One was a simplified version of her old Level 4 standard Mech, the "Wraith," stripped down to minimal propulsion systems. It provided aerial support for Ouyang Tao.
Deya stood atop the other Mech—the enhanced "Banshee," a Level 8 standard model. Far larger than the Wraith, it was essentially a flying artillery platform with powerful shields. Her chosen weapons were two twin-linked 120-caliber mana cannons.
The problem was, without Magic Stones, Deya had to power them herself. She needed time.
Ouyang Tao, now stable, immediately moved to distract Edward. Focusing his remaining defenses around himself, he redeployed his weapons. Three "Rapid Electricity Longbow" units fired relentlessly.
The dense, shifting barrage gave Edward no breathing room, slowly forcing him into Deya’s optimal firing angle.
Though Ouyang Tao and Deya exchanged not a single word, their默契 was perfect. After thirty seconds of delay, Deya was ready.
"Charging complete—fire!" Four energy beams shot straight at Edward.
Simultaneously, Ouyang Tao’s ten "Rapid Electricity Thunder" units unleashed a full volley, joining Deya’s assault.
Yet it still couldn’t break Edward’s defense. Crimson mana formed a barrier before him, blocking every attack. "Hmph… Is this all you’ve got?"
The stalemate favored Edward. Ouyang Tao and Deya’s mana couldn’t compare to the power within the Devil King Artifact.
Edward began pushing forward, inch by inch. His barrier pressed against the energy beams, forcing them back.
With no retreat left, Ouyang Tao and Deya could only resist with all their strength.
Seeing victory tilt his way, Edward spoke again. "Ouyang Tao, do you know? I envy you. I envy how you turn my fantasies into reality. I envy how others acknowledge you. I envy how you choose your own life…" He paused. "But that’s not why I must kill you."
"W-What do you mean?"
"Her heart holds only you. As long as you live, it will never be mine!"
"Huh?" Ouyang Tao didn’t understand.
One thing was clear: Edward meant to kill him now.
"Farewell!"
Just as Edward prepared the killing blow, a figure burst through the towering flame wall. Like a sharp sword, it slashed Edward’s barrier in half.
"W-What—?!" The surprise attack shattered his defense. All fourteen energy beams struck true. Edward flew backward, and the surrounding firewalls vanished instantly.
"Damn, no!" Ouyang Tao didn’t want him dead. Despite Edward’s intent to kill, Ouyang Tao’s first reaction was worry. He rushed over on the Wraith.
Not just him—nearly everyone nearby sprinted toward Edward’s crash site. But…
The impact spot was a grassy field. Only a scorched crater remained. "No one? How?"
As confusion gripped Ouyang Tao, a wave of dread surged. Behind him, chaos erupted, followed by a burst of flames.
Shit! Edward still had fight left!
It was too late. Edward soared into the sky, cradling the unconscious Ouyang Xue.
Ouyang Tao’s heart burned with anxiety. "Hey! You wanted to kill me—why take my sister?!"
"Hmph." Edward said nothing, vanishing as a red light toward the horizon.
No time to hesitate. Ouyang Tao chased full-speed on the Wraith.
"Idiot, it’s a trap!" Deya complained but followed close behind.
Unnoticed, Ouyang Tao left the academy district. The red light suddenly vanished—then shot upward from below, piercing the Wraith. Ouyang Tao jolted as he plummeted from twenty meters up.
The fall was brutal. Bushes cushioned him slightly, but he could barely move.
The Wraith’s wreckage lay nearby. Ouyang Tao strained to repair it with his right hand—only to have a foot stomp down hard on it.
"Hah… hah… Fooled you…" Edward panted, bloodied and terrifying. He hadn’t escaped unharmed, hence the ambush.
Holding Ouyang Xue with his left arm, Edward gathered mana in his right, aiming at Ouyang Tao. "Any last words?"
"A Xue would be heartbroken… seeing you like this… Ah—!" Ouyang Tao screamed as Edward crushed his pinned hand.
"You knew… you must have known!" Edward wailed hysterically. "As long as you live, her heart will only hold you! That’s why you could say those things to me, bastard! Die!"
A searing red beam slashed down. Ouyang Tao raised his left arm instinctively.
Miraculously, a strange force absorbed the attack. He stood unharmed.
Not only that—his wounds healed, and his strength returned.
As Edward froze in shock, Deya charged in. Too close for cannons, she lunged with a sword.
Edward blocked with one hand, but injured, he couldn’t fully defend. The blade pierced his palm, forcing him back against a tree.
Unexpectedly, Edward gripped the sword’s guard as it impaled him. Heat flared, burning the metal red-hot. Deya dropped the sword.
In that split second, Edward countered. He stepped forward, twisted his wrist, and pressed the sharp blade to Deya’s throat.
"Don’t move!"
"Don’t move!"
Edward and Ouyang Tao shouted the same words at each other.
In that instant, Ouyang Tao had reshaped the Wraith’s wreckage into a "Rapid Electricity Longbow." He charged it with his mana, aiming at Edward.
"Heh… This is interesting, isn’t it?" Edward grinned cruelly. "You have one shot. I hold two lives. Which will you choose? Heh…"
"Don’t do anything rash!"
"Stay back!" Edward barked. "No tricks. One wrong move, and I’ll slice this woman’s head off—or turn your precious sister to ash!"
"You…" Ouyang Tao clenched his fists, sweat dripping from his brow.
"Choose now, or I kill them both!"
Deya was terrified. To her, the choice seemed obvious.
For Ouyang Tao, it was a gamble. "Edward… even now, I still trust you!"
