So this was victory?
Luyi couldn’t help but think she hadn’t even lifted a finger yet.
To avoid frightening the newcomers, she’d deliberately reined in almost all her Demon Sovereign aura, planning to go easy on them.
But this worked out fine too.
The state she’d been in during the Night of Stellar Abyss fight against Sige was already her absolute baseline.
She’d genuinely feared losing control mid-battle and turning her opponent into a gory spectacle of raining blood.
...
The following days saw the newcomer tournament in full swing.
Nearly all attention centered on Salros and Luyi.
Because without exception, their opponents surrendered the moment matches began—no resistance whatsoever.
As for Louise, only her first two bouts drew mild interest before fading into obscurity.
After all, only Hall Masters could truly appreciate combat technique.
To the spectators, Luyi and Salros were far more enigmatic.
Louise understood the fear around Salros—everyone revered his imperial bloodline.
But when it came to Luyi... she simply couldn’t grasp it.
Why?
Just because her talent surpassed Salros’?
Or because she was beautiful?
“...”
Too proud to mingle with other newcomers, Louise would retreat to a secluded high vantage point after her own matches, gazing down at the battle zones.
Thus, she remained unaware of the rumors circulating among nobles about Luyi’s terrifying power display during the Night of Stellar Abyss.
She could only guess at the reasons.
“I think I’ve got it.”
A sudden flash of insight struck her. “That trash from the Soul Marrow Sword faction surrendered out of cowardice. And since her bloodline talent ranked high, she’d already gained minor fame before arriving at Stellar Abyss Academy. So when others saw her yield, they followed suit.”
This created an aura around Luluie—so powerful that even prodigies might die facing her.
And gradually... everyone came to believe it.
Louise nodded firmly, utterly convinced.
“Truly, the mediocre remain mediocre. Mindlessly parroting others like a herd of foolish sheep—”
A smirk curled her lips.
As a reincarnator, a noble of royal blood, she was nothing like those trash.
She could keenly sense the utterly non-threatening aura radiating from Luyi.
“This isn’t some ‘dihua-novel’ fantasy. This is bloody reality.”
“You keep winning... but when you face me? Total defeat awaits.”
...
The day Louise had anticipated finally arrived.
The Round of 32.
“Fifth match: Luluie versus Louise!”
Here it was!
Thrill surged through Louise. She stepped into the arena with a genuine smile.
Ahead, a golden-haired girl walked slowly toward her.
Up close, Louise found herself momentarily dazed again—just like their first meeting.
The girl remained so pure, so untainted, making every other demon feel unworthy.
Her eyes held such clarity, like the deep blue sky at twilight.
Like a flawless work of art.
“Truly an angel...”
Louise sighed inwardly.
Yet—
The more perfect the artwork, the more fragile it was.
For a fleeting second, Louise felt a pang of pity.
Was this why others surrendered?
She shook her head, smiling faintly.
She wouldn’t make that mistake.
Luluie and Salros were stepping stones on her path to the throne.
Salros? She’d cripple him utterly, making the current Dark Emperor rage helplessly.
But Luyi...
Perhaps she could afford to hold back slightly this time.
“Ah, Miss Luluie! I’m already dead!”
“Another day of voluntary surrender, huh?”
“...”
The crowd outside the arena grew noisy.
“Big sister, we meet again~”
Louise greeted Luyi brightly.
“...”
Luyi gave a silent nod.
But she sensed Louise’s eyes turning sly, her lips curling upward.
The next words nearly stopped Luyi’s heart.
“Actually, big sister... I know your secret~”
“!”
What secret?
Should she silence her right here, right now?
“I mean... you have zero talent for fighting, don’t you?”
As dangerous thoughts flared in Luyi’s mind, Louise whispered mockingly, “Big sister’s just trash too~”
“...”
“But everyone’s too intimidated by your ‘talent’ to fight you. That’s why they surrender, isn’t it?”
“Oh? Big sister’s blushing. How pathetic~”
Seeing Luyi flush for the first time, Louise grew bolder, utterly convinced of her theory.
“...”
Watching Louise reach the exact opposite conclusion, Luyi relaxed.
She didn’t reply. Instead, she closed her eyes.
Calculating how much power to use—enough to avoid reducing her opponent to fragments with the first strike.
“Angry, big sister?”
Ignoring her made Louise’s chest tighten unexpectedly with panic and... loss?
Had she gone too far?
Hurt Miss Luluie?
But... why did she feel loss?
Luluie was just a stepping stone!
She shook off the feeling, focusing on the coming battle. She’d crush Luyi instantly.
Then Salros would be next.
“Begin!”
The referee’s voice cut through the air.
In the same instant, a dark blade whooshed past Louise’s ear.
Just like that night during the Night of Stellar Abyss.
It pierced through her nearly completed magic circle—and sliced off a few strands of her silver hair.
“Huh?”
What...?
Instant combat technique activation?
Louise froze for a split second.
Luyi slowly opened her eyes.
Louise felt the gaze of something terrifyingly ancient lock onto her.
The arena’s temperature plummeted. The Source of Magic around her churned violently. Even with her imperial bloodline, an overwhelming pressure crushed down on her.
All of it radiated from Luyi—the girl who’d seemed utterly harmless moments before.
...
