Not far from the Tianmu City Beidou Star International Convention Center, two winged figures clashed in a deadly aerial duel. They spiraled through the sky, chasing and evading each other, streaks of lightning and dark energy colliding like fireworks midair.

Beautiful—but lethally so.

Nangong Shiyu noticed Lotali’s flight was slightly faster. If he kept fleeing, she’d catch him. Cornered, he gathered lightning in his palm and fired, hoping to slow her pursuit.

*Plans are perfect; reality is cruel.* His situation embodied that old saying.

Every bolt he shot was intercepted by dark energy lashing from Lotali’s scythe. His magic drained rapidly while she remained barely affected. The odds were grim.

*Xia Zixin…* Doubt crept into Shiyu’s heart. *Can I really defeat this Fiend?*

He wanted to stay confident, to crush his enemy—but the battle forced him to question the outcome.

*What will happen?*

*Will I lose?*

*Will I die?*

*Will Xia Zixin perish with me?*

*"Do you even need to ask?"* Xia Zixin’s calm voice echoed in his mind. *"Keep fighting. You still have a chance."*

*"That’s no answer at all,"* Shiyu thought bitterly.

A chance meant no guarantee.

…

How foolish. Why ask her such things?

No one could predict victory in battle. Expecting her to promise *"You’ll win"* was unfair.

So… he just had to fight with everything he had?

Probably.

Fear gripped him.

Fear of losing.

Fear of dying.

Fear of Xia Zixin vanishing if he fell.

He couldn’t afford to lose—so why duel this girl?

This feeling…

It was like when his parents said, *"From now on, you must take care of yourself alone."*

Like his first terrified moment alone in the kitchen.

Like his trembling steps buying vegetables at the market for the first time.

*"I can hear your thoughts, little sister,"* Xia Zixin whispered. *"My fault for telling you she dethroned me as Thunder God. That fear is mine to bear."*

True. Without that knowledge, Shiyu might have fought more boldly.

Yet that warning had saved him—without it, Lotali’s earlier kick would have killed him.

*"I didn’t finish my story,"* Xia Zixin added. *"If you fully master the Thunder God’s power? This Fiend is ridiculously weak."*

*Ridiculously weak?*

*"Then how did she defeat you?"*

If she was weak, how had she overthrown a Thunder God? It made no sense.

*"I’d just battled a powerful Aberrant… and this little demon ambushed me at my weakest."*

*"An ambush?"*

*"More or less,"* Xia Zixin giggled awkwardly. *"Against her now? Your odds are 40-60. You can win."*

40-60…

Still the underdog. Shiyu’s bitter smile returned.

*"Why didn’t you say this earlier when I asked for intel?!"*

*"I barely know her! Every time she found me, I was defeated instantly—or killed outright. No proper fight ever happened. What intel could I give?"*

Understanding dawned. Knowing her strength restored a flicker of confidence.

*"At least it’s not 30-70."*

*"Wouldn’t 50-50 be better?"*

*"Only if luck’s on my side."* Shiyu smirked, glancing back at the Silverhaired Maiden chasing him. He fired two fresh lightning bolts.

As before, dark energy from her scythe swallowed the attack. Zero impact.

*Damn it!* Shiyu’s mind raced, but no strategy surfaced. His magic dwindled—ten minutes left, maybe. Then his wings would vanish. He’d plummet, splattering on the pavement like pulp.

A more humiliating death than a gangster’s bullet.

Lotali closed in. Shiyu felt helpless—until one stray bolt slipped past her guard. It grazed her wing and struck an apartment building behind her. Bricks exploded outward from a gaping hole, raining debris toward the street below.

Shiyu’s magically enhanced vision caught what lay beneath the falling rubble:

A small boy stood frozen, basketball clutched to his chest, staring up as death descended.

*No!*

But before Shiyu could react, Lotali halted her pursuit. She veered sharply downward—racing to save the child.

*Why save him?*

*She’s a Fiend!*

*"NOW!"* Xia Zixin’s shout cut through his shock. *"Manifest that weapon! This is your only chance!"*

*"But—"*

*"NO HESITATION! TIME’S RUNNING OUT!"*

*"Understood."*

Shiyu closed his eyes. In his mind, he rebuilt the weapon.

The weapon that would decide everything.

*"Lightning, heed my command…"*

Form locked. Structure locked. Magical properties locked. Power output—initiate.

*"Become my blade—PURGE THESE ABERRANTS!"*