In just two minutes, the battlefield between Silver Lady and Cat Gem spilled beyond the arena. Dust clouds billowed below where raw power shattered the ground. Silver Lady’s arms bore fresh blood streaks, quickly sealed by regenerating flesh.
Cat Gem fared no better. The silver demon before her wielded strength far beyond her expectations. A trickle of blood seeped from her lip, yet her sword hand remained steady.
She raised her blade, eyes locked on the silver figure in the mist. Sensing its movement, she swung—only for the demon’s claw to slam into her arm. Her sword flew from her grip, carving a deep gash across Silver Lady’s shoulder.
Silver blood oozed from the wound. Cat Gem crashed to the ground, scrambling up to find Silver Lady vanished in the haze. She closed her eyes.
This was Su Nisheng’s third time witnessing Cat Gem fight. Her swordplay was mysteriously magnificent. The Alliance had long sought her family’s techniques but failed. Su Nisheng couldn’t predict the outcome, yet Silver Lady’s earlier confidence hinted she might not lose.
Three tense minutes passed. Silver Lady’s body was now crisscrossed with wounds. Cat Gem took a claw strike to her chest, shredding her clothes—only a tight undershirt beneath saved her modesty.
Victory would come soon. Su Nisheng wasn’t worried for Cat Gem’s life. Even if she lost, she’d only sacrifice one of her eight remaining lives.
Energy crackled around Silver Lady’s arms like tangible lightning. Cat Gem raised her sword—her final move.
They leapt toward each other. Then, a black flash erupted beside Su Nisheng. Mo Dou’s annihilation power. She gasped, words trapped in her throat as the darkness hurtled toward Silver Lady.
Time slowed. Cat Gem frowned slightly but didn’t halt her strike. Silver Lady saw the annihilating light—no escape. Better to land her claw first.
Su Nisheng’s breath hitched. This wasn’t part of the plan. She’d come to negotiate. Why did Mo Dou attack? Did he have different orders? If Silver Lady died, how would her faction retaliate? Su Nisheng’s mind raced. She still felt a flicker of fondness for Silver Lady’s odd kindness.
The black light reached Silver Lady’s eyes. Cat Gem’s sword aimed for her chest. Even if the claw landed, annihilation would erase Silver Lady’s mind.
A calm, furious voice cut through the air.
“Leave.”
Dust vanished in a sudden gale. Su Nisheng blinked against the wind. Silver Lady and Cat Gem were gone from midair.
Silver Lady lay cradled by a black-clad figure.
Cat Gem had been punched from the fourth floor to the third, leaving a crater in the ground.
Su Nisheng’s lips parted. Before her stood Raven, masked in black.
“Scared?” Raven asked softly.
“Of course not! I knew you’d be here, Master.”
“If I hadn’t come today, what then? Listen to me.”
“Silver Lady was wrong… Master.” Her voice turned small.
“This isn’t your fault.”
Raven carried Silver Lady to the spectator seats, setting her down gently.
On the third floor, Cat Gem’s body had been reduced to pulp by that inexplicable force. But a soft glow reassembled her, restoring her to peak strength. She leapt back to the fourth floor, disoriented, only to see Raven standing there—cold eyes fixed on Mo Dou.
Raven stepped toward Mo Dou.
“I thought earning less was fine. My limit for Silver Lady was forty percent.” His voice was flat, like still water.
“All these years, I avoided clashing with The Alliance. Silver Lady stayed obedient. Did her growth frighten you? Or did greed finally win?”
Six steps. Mo Dou stood speechless. Su Nisheng felt crushing psychic pressure in the air—SS Rank at minimum. So Raven was a psychic? Had he killed other SS Ranks by exploding their heads with telekinesis?
Raven stopped two meters away.
“You’re Mo Dou, right?”
A chuckle escaped his mask.
“Why show no gratitude for being alive?”
Before everyone’s eyes, Raven snapped his fingers lightly.
Mo Dou’s pinky bone exploded into powder. The destruction spread—arm, shoulder, chest, legs—until only dust remained.
Mo Dou was dead.
In three seconds, one of The Alliance’s proudest SS Rank elites in this city had died. Simply. Effortlessly.
Raven didn’t spare the remains a glance. He turned to Cat Gem, her sword still gripped tight.
“You received orders too?”
“No.”
“Strange. Two SS Ranks, only one ordered to act. Interesting.”
“You’ll attack me next?”
“You killed Mo Dou. You must be sanctioned.” Cat Gem breathed deeply, tightening her grip. This might be the strongest opponent she’d ever faced.
“But you don’t even have a sword. How will you sanction me?”
Cat Gem froze. Her sword—gone. Her hands were empty. She looked up to see Raven holding it. The blade that had been her companion since birth. Her other half. Twenty-three years of loyalty. No innocent souls under its edge.
Raven’s fingers pinched the tip. He flicked it downward.
“I hear your ancient martial clans treat weapons like family. True?” He tilted his head. Cat Gem lunged—but Raven was faster.
He broke the sword piece by piece.
Thirty seconds later, he dropped the fragments at her feet.
Cat Gem hadn’t cried in years. Now tears streamed down as she knelt, frantically gathering shards. Blood dripped from her cut fingers. She understood the chasm of power.
Raven walked toward Su Nisheng.
She bit her lip, unafraid. When hope was gone, life rested in another’s hands. What was there to fear?
“Will you kill me?”
“Why would I?”
Raven crouched by Mo Dou’s remains. He shattered the skull, then pulled out a red rose flower.
Su Nisheng’s eyes widened. “He… he was Rose’s man?!”
“The Alliance wouldn’t dare this alone. Call your memory-reader. If you can’t explain this reasonably, Cat Gem dies today too.”
“Understood.”
Su Nisheng dialed, hands trembling.
“Situation changed. Mo Dou ambushed Silver Lady mid-fight, trying to kill her. Raven intervened, killed Mo Dou, and… extracted a rose from his skull. Send Wu Chang now. I need Mo Dou’s memories read.”
Raven sat nearby, twirling the rose. He knew this flower. Knew its maker well. Once, a tagalong calling him “brother.” Now, a faction leader named Rose. But things had changed.
“What… are you thinking?” Su Nisheng ventured.
“Just reminiscing.”
“Rose is alive. That phrase doesn’t fit.”
A soft laugh came from behind the mask. “No. In my heart, she’s already dead.”
Silence fell. Silver Lady rose from her seat, settling onto Raven’s lap.
“What now?” she whispered.
“Clear this up. Anyone wanting death gets it.”
“Can I change clothes?”
“Go ahead.”
“Master, maid dress with black stockings or white?”
“White suits you.”
“You mean I’m like a little girl?”
“You’re sexy enough already. Skip the black. Hurry.” He gently pinched her ear. Silver Lady stood and left.
Raven glanced at Cat Gem, sobbing over the sword shards like a broken child. He scratched his head awkwardly.
