"Bring it on if you've got the guts."

For the first time, Bernie heard the voice of the Silverhaired Violeteyed Sorceress. It sounded almost masculine—nothing like the delicate tone he’d imagined—but he didn’t care.

*Finally getting serious? Sorceress, show me your true power.*

After his taunt, Yan Lingxuan immediately tensed and whispered to the Wearable Device on his left wrist:

"Alice, any way to handle this redheaded brute?" (*Wasn’t this supposed to be solo?*)

"Based on combat data, I’ve calculated a preliminary countermeasure. However, there’s an 88% probability he’s concealing his full strength—"

"No time for that. Let’s give him a taste of our power first."

"Understood…"

While his opponent muttered to himself, Bernie didn’t rush to attack. Years of battle instinct warned him it might be a trap. (*Overthinking it.*)

Yan Lingxuan didn’t keep him waiting. After a mere seven-second pause, magic power surged around him again.

Moving like the wind, his figure became a blur. The twenty-meter gap closed in under two seconds. He hooked his Magic Gun at his back, drew a black grip from his right hip, and channeled magic into it. A pale red blade over a meter long flared to life at its tip.

The Magic Quantum Blade—shortened to "Magic Blade"—was a close-combat artifact. That seemingly fragile crimson light functioned like a laser weapon. Upon contact, it could instantly reach temperatures between 6,000 to 10,000 degrees—enough to incinerate an ox in two seconds.

Lowering his stance like a wolf, Yan Lingxuan lunged within a meter of Bernie and slashed without hesitation. The blade sliced through Bernie’s silhouette, but just like the earlier Magic Bullet, it passed harmlessly through his phantom form.

Bernie stared at the futile girl before him, baffled by her antics. This was undeniably the real Silverhaired Violeteyed Sorceress—no holographic tricks, same face, same hair, identical build. So why was she so weak?

"Hmph. With my Magic Blade pressing you nonstop, you can’t use that Air Explosive trick again."

According to Alice’s calculations, maintaining this half-corporeal state forced Bernie to sacrifice offensive capability—which explained why he only attacked after dodging the bullets.

"So what if you know? Can your pathetic strikes even scratch me?"

"Scratching you isn’t necessary. I just need to hold you here."

Yan Lingxuan knew Bernie had likely sensed Bai Lingyue’s movements. No point pretending. Even if Bernie discovered the decoy, Alice’s analysis confirmed he’d crush the fake before leaving.

"Oh? Your honesty is refreshing. A beauty like you… if not my enemy, I’d crush you in my arms and kiss you senseless."

"Fuck off! Disgusting!"

As a straight man hearing this from a burly redhead, Yan Lingxuan’s skin crawled with goosebumps, his rear clenched involuntarily. He didn’t realize how adorably fierce he looked right now—especially with those furrowed brows radiating tsundere charm. (*Cross-dressing suits him.*)

Since he faced a "maiden," Bernie remained gentlemanly:

"Spirited women excite me. Strip you bare, and you’ll quiet down. Don’t worry—I’ll be gentle if it’s your first time."

"Stop fucking grossing me out, you redheaded bastard!"

Knowing it was futile, Yan Lingxuan poured his rage into action. His Magic Blade became a phantom blur, far beyond human speed.

*He’s leering at me while I look like Lingyue. How dare he disrespect my impossibly cute, world-number-one little sister! I’ll beat you till your own mother won’t recognize you. Sisters belong to their brothers—you scum don’t even deserve to glance at her!* (*Thankfully our parents are gone. They’d kill you on sight.*)

Facing increasingly vicious strikes, Bernie dropped his playful demeanor. His figure drifted backward, out of range.

"Enemy materializing at 3 o’clock in one second."

Yan Lingxuan sheathed the blade, snatched his Magic Gun, and fired blindly to his right.

As Bernie’s form solidified, crimson light grazed his arm. The sizzling flesh reeked of cooked meat, a patch charred to black. Bone untouched. He could regenerate it easily.

*Finally got you back.* Yan Lingxuan smirked.

"You use a top-tier phantom-state spell, dispersing most of your body into quantum particles to nullify physical attacks. But maintaining it drains immense mental energy. Your brain can’t quantumize—you’d lose yourself. Hit a wide enough area or catch you mid-recovery, and you bleed."

Bernie’s smile never wavered, even with his phantom-state weakness exposed.

"Enough games. Let’s reach the climax. Don’t disappoint me—slaughter begins now."

He’d sensed the magical turbulence from the auditorium. A powerhouse nearly his equal was there. Alecxi’s team wouldn’t hold long. This fight needed to end fast.

Just as Bernie said, their earlier clash was mere warm-up. Now, the magic coalescing around him felt like a black hole devouring space itself—even Yan Lingxuan’s reserves trembled under its pull.

"Enemy attack in 2.5 seconds. Calculating evasion paths based on impact radius…"

*Thank god for the world’s top AI.* With Alice’s support, he might survive longer. *Just need Lingyue to rescue me… Ah, perfect—exhausted in her arms, resting on her lap…*

"Alright. For my sister’s thighs, I’ll push a little longer."

Hurricane-force winds erupted around Bernie. His aura thickened into chaotic darkness, eyes blazing like a demon’s.

"Whoa… this feels illegal—"

No time to retreat. Their eyes met. The attack came.

**BOOM—**

The explosion shook the auditorium.

Bai Lingyue glanced toward the field, then refocused. She’d already crushed over half the armed militants into pavement craters. *Don’t you dare die, idiot brother.* Her movements accelerated.

"Stay back! See this hostage?!"

Meng Bo shoved a student forward as a shield. Only icy fury met him. As he pulled the trigger, he realized his gun had melted into unrecognizable slag. Then, like his comrades, he plunged into a crater—unconscious.

"Unbelievable. All three Valkyries are here. A grave miscalculation!"

Alecxi snarled, face ashen. Two of their six guarding mages lay motionless.

Shan Xi’s eyes gleamed like a starving wolf spotting prey.

"*Never* let a melee master within four meters!"

Alecxi and the remaining four mages fused their power, erecting an impenetrable barrier. They’d survive a nuclear blast behind it.

True, even Shan Xi—who could topple seven-story buildings with one punch—couldn’t shatter it easily.

But golden flames reduced it to ash in seconds.

"*Golden Flame!*"

Across the room, Katherine traced her sensual lips, golden hair blazing brighter than ever.

Trapped against this nightmare duo, Alecxi could only stall for time. *Hurry back, Lord Bernie.* (*Your ‘Lord Bernie’ is having too much fun with the cross-dresser.*)

In truth, barely two minutes had passed since the trio arrived at the auditorium.