Roar… roar…

Osgar let out a low growl. It opened its massive jaws, gathering the flames of the Netherworld once more before unleashing them toward Zixuan. This very attack had just claimed the lives of nearly a hundred Soul Force Wielders.

Zixuan didn’t dodge. Her pale, slender fingers clenched as if grasping something—and a pure white, crystalline longsword materialized in her hand. This was her Soul Weapon, *Stellar Mark*. Raising it high, she slashed downward against the oncoming inferno.

BOOM!!!!

The flames halted abruptly, unable to advance even a hair’s breadth. The collision erupted into blinding light, scattering embers across the sky. For an instant, the entire heavens blazed bright; the very air seemed to tremble. Thankfully, they were high above—the scattered flames extinguished before reaching the dense forest below.

The squad leader, his three direct subordinates, and distant Soul Force Wielders instinctively shielded their eyes. Only when the light fully faded did they lower their arms.

Perhaps shaken by the impact, Zixuan paused—but not a single strand of hair was out of place. Her crimson eyes fearlessly stared straight ahead at Osgar.

Roar……

Sensing unprecedented danger, Osgar flapped its wings, locking gazes with Zixuan from above.

Like two titans before a duel—deceptively calm, yet on the brink of a life-or-death clash.

ROAR!!!!

For the first time, Osgar threw back its head in a sky-splitting howl. Countless crimson magic circles erupted around its body, spewing torrents of fireballs at Zixuan.

Zixuan moved instantly. Dodging the fireballs, she closed the distance to Osgar at blinding speed.

In moments, she stood directly before the beast. Raising *Stellar Mark*, she brought it down in a cleaving strike aimed at Osgar’s skull. Just as onlookers expected the monster’s head to split in two, Osgar’s own crimson eyes blazed with searing light. A colossal red magic circle materialized above its head. Zixuan’s blade struck the barrier—unable to penetrate even a hair’s breadth further.

Then, Osgar’s massive left wing slammed toward her. Zixuan raised her free hand. A translucent white shield flickered into existence. The wing crashed against it—and the barrier erupted with blinding white light upon impact.

BANG!!!!

The deafening collision echoed. Everyone braced for Zixuan to be flung away—but her stance never wavered. The shield had stopped Osgar’s wing dead. In the next instant, white light flashed—and the wing meant to crush her was cleanly severed.

"H-how… She injured Osgar so easily?"

A squad member beside Kuang Tian’ao stared in disbelief, his earlier eagerness to help Zixuan forgotten.

"Now you understand why I said that battlefield no longer belongs to us," Kuang Tian’ao said gravely. "Osgar—a high-tier Monster requiring multiple top-tier Soul Force Wielders to barely contain—she’s overpowering it alone. And Shirley… she’s merely the eighth-ranked member among the thirteen knights of the Order of the Holy Temple. These people… they’re monsters through and through."

Losing one wing, Osgar couldn’t maintain flight. It began plummeting—but still flapped its remaining wing desperately, twisting midair to face Zixuan. Dozens of crimson magic circles flared around its body again, launching fireballs while it unleashed another earth-shattering roar.

ROAR!!!!!

"Ghh… what’s this? My body… suddenly weak…"

The squad member beside Kuang Tian’ao swayed dizzily. He saw everyone, including Kuang, succumbing to the same weakness.

"That roar—it’s Osgar’s unique ability. It paralyzes our nerves. We’re only mildly affected because we’re far enough away." Kuang Tian’ao’s face tightened as he watched Zixuan. She’d endured the roar point-blank. Worry crept into his gaze.

Zixuan’s figure tilted—then plunged downward.

But this wasn’t from the roar’s effect. She was chasing Osgar.

Fear flooded Osgar. It flapped its lone wing frantically, trying to escape.

"Don’t you dare run away~"

A sweet, childlike voice chimed. Purple magic circles bloomed around Osgar. Black chains shot forth, binding the beast tight.

Claire appeared nearby, hands clasped before her chest, gazing at Zixuan with rapt adoration.

"Ahhh… Big Sister-sama… your radiance leaves me breathless. Big Sister-sama!" she murmured dreamily, eyes never leaving Zixuan.

Gripping *Stellar Mark* in one hand, Zixuan closed in. A massive red magic circle flared above Osgar’s head. Channeling immense Soul Power into her blade, Zixuan struck as she reached the beast—a ring of white light pierced the barrier. Osgar’s head cleanly separated from its body.

The black chains vanished. Osgar’s colossal corpse plummeted.

Zixuan watched it fall, expressionless. *Stellar Mark* dissolved into shimmering particles in her hand.

"Big Sister-sama! You worked so hard!"

Claire darted over and threw herself into Zixuan’s arms. A tender smile touched Zixuan’s lips as she stroked Claire’s hair.

"Mm. You did well too, Claire."

Just then, a voice crackled through the tiny earpiece Zixuan wore:

"S-Shirley-sama! The young master… he’s gravely injured!"

Zixuan’s face drained of color—as if her soul had been ripped out.

"Big Sister-sama?" Claire pulled back, worry flooding her eyes. She’d never seen Zixuan’s composure shatter like this.

"Where is Yichen now?"

"He’s been rushed to Heavenly Bay City Central Hospital. He was beaten… by several people—"

"I’m coming."

Zixuan cut off the report and gently pushed Claire away.

"Claire… my brother… he’s hurt. I must go to him." Her voice trembled. Her crimson eyes—usually so steady—quaked with raw fear.

"Eh? Big Sister-sama—"

Before Claire could finish, Zixuan turned and vanished, her speed no slower than when she’d first arrived at the battlefield.

Claire stood frozen, arm outstretched toward Zixuan’s fading silhouette. Slowly, it fell limply to her side.

"Claire-sama, we owe you both our deepest gratitude."

Kuang Tian’ao approached with his squad. Though Claire’s slaughter and Zixuan’s clash with Osgar had left them terrified, these were their saviors—and superiors. Gratitude was necessary.

"Eh? Where’s Shirley-sama? Why did she leave so suddenly?"

Claire’s head snapped up. Her eyes blazed as she glared at Kuang Tian’ao.

"Shut up! SHUT UP!! SHUT UUUUP!!! Don’t bother me! I’ll kill you all if you don’t leave me alone!!!"

She stomped her feet and waved her arms like a tantruming child. But no one laughed. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.

Ignoring their frozen fear, Claire turned and raced after Zixuan.