After listening to Xia Zixin’s analysis, Nangong Shiyu found it reasonable—yet unsettling.

Even in a fifty-fifty matchup, his attrition strategy could give him the upper hand. But that advantage hinged entirely on one condition: how much magic Lotali had poured into her barrier?

If the barrier was paper-thin, easily shattered, then grinding it out would be like digging his own grave.

"Don’t worry," Xia Zixin said confidently. "If that fiend truly rages at innocent deaths, she’d layer the barrier with enough magic to withstand your full-power strike. If you got desperate and broke it—hurting people outside—she’d regret it forever. So go all-in on attrition. Just remember: as your magic drains, she’ll thin the barrier too. Minimize your own consumption. Dodge more. Block less. You’ll win."

"Understood."

In battle, Xia Zixin’s counsel always steadied him.

There *was* a chance.

Following her plan, he’d be fine.

"Your magic…" Lotali murmured, eyes locked on Nangong Shiyu. "Is it really… just… depleting?"

Her wings snapped open. She lunged.

Nangong Shiyu adopted Xia Zixin’s tactic: evade, don’t engage.

Outlast her.

For over five minutes, he weaved through the air. Lotali grew frantic, her strikes sloppier. Meanwhile, Nangong Shiyu’s flight sharpened—movements fluid, almost transformed.

In mere minutes, he held clear advantage. Lotali’s attacks weakened; she could barely fend off his advances.

Yet he held back. Attacking risked her reclaiming the barrier’s reserve magic—a devastating counterstrike.

"Exactly like this," Xia Zixin urged. "Keep it up. She’s burning twice your magic. She can’t win."

"How much longer?"

"Ten minutes, max."

"*Ten more minutes?*" Nangong Shiyu groaned. "I’ll collapse before she does—"

"Nonsense. Impossible."

"That confident in me?"

"Of course," Xia Zixin said. "You’re the 233rd-generation Thunder God after me. This place won’t break you."

"Tell that to my legs—"

Lotali’s speed spiked. Her combos intensified. In a blink, Nangong Shiyu’s advantage flipped—shattered.

Her onslaught crushed his calm. He dodged desperately, raising Thor to block unavoidable strikes, driven backward.

"What’s happening?!" Panic edged his voice.

"Stay steady!" Xia Zixin shouted. "Now! Strike the barrier! Just a light magic-infused slash!"

"Why?!"

"No time—*do it!*"

He trusted her judgment.

Magic surged into Thor’s violet orb. As Lotali whirled past him, Nangong Shiyu broke free, swung the greatsword, and cleaved the crimson barrier.

A jagged tear ripped open. The wall was far thinner than he’d imagined.

Noon sunlight stabbed through the gap, stinging his eyes.

He didn’t hesitate. Squinting against the glare, he burst out of the barrier—free of Lotali’s domain.

"What… was that?" Nangong Shiyu blinked tears away. "Why was the barrier so weak?"

"Didn’t you notice her sudden aggression?"

"Yeah—but I thought she’d gone all out."

"True, but irrelevant. Think: how did a fiend evenly matched—or losing—suddenly overpower you? Where did that extra magic come from?"

Understanding dawned.

"Oh! She drained the barrier’s magic!"

"Basic battlefield analysis," Xia Zixin confirmed. "Step up your game."

As Nangong Shiyu absorbed the lesson, Lotali retracted the barrier. The black mist swirling around the schoolyard coiled back into her, thickening around her form like armor.

Nangong Shiyu tightened his grip on Thor. Her crimson eyes burned with killing intent. His instincts screamed: *This* would decide everything.

"Good news," Xia Zixin said. "You’re even with her now."

"Really?"

"Mostly. She still has a slight edge—but shift to offense. *Now*."

"Got it."

Nangong Shiyu charged, Thor raised high. Lotali met him head-on.

Lightning clashed with dark mist, tearing at each other—neither yielding.

"Lotali," Nangong Shiyu called between strikes. "Do you crave the Thunder God’s Mystic Pearl so badly?"

"That thing… isn’t… for me… Master wants it… All Lotali wants… is to kill you…"

Her scarlet pupils bloomed with pure hatred, clawing at his resolve.

No flicker of doubt. Only certainty.

"And you…" she hissed. "Why… as the new Thunder God… did you fuse with the Demonic Orb… so fast? Three days… and you’re already… devouring it… entirely…"

"*What did you say?!*"

Devouring… entirely?