"Empty threats."

The she-devil sneered, summoning pitch-black magic circles that locked onto the girl huddled in the distant corner.

The human from earlier was already dead—his corpse dangling from her tail was proof enough.

At point-blank range, there was no way he could’ve slipped past her unnoticed.

She took a steadying breath, forcing down her unease, and glared at the absurdly ornate wormhole shimmering beside the blue-haired girl.

*What is that thing?* It wasn’t magic—she sensed no mana flowing through it.

Who *were* these intruders? Every technique they used was utterly alien to her.

"Demon lady," a smooth, teasing male voice cut through the air behind her just as her spell neared completion, "you’ve frightened my Aiva."

A cyclone erupted from the ground, kicking up dust and tearing fissures across the earth.

*Impossible...*

Her heart plummeted at that infuriatingly familiar voice. She whipped her gaze to the corpse on her tail.

Mu Yi’s body still hung like a ragdoll—but the voice echoing around her was undeniably real.

*No. The corpse is still here. Is this an illusion?*

"Wait... the corpse... it’s melting..."

Her eyes widened as the body on her tail began dissolving.

Flesh-colored sludge oozed downward, revealing a puppet beneath—crafted from silvery-white wood.

"A decoy doll?! But when did he—?!"

She gritted her teeth, a growl escaping her lips. *How did he swap himself right under my nose?* Fooled by a human’s cheap trick.

"Where are you hiding?! Show yourself!!"

Ancient magic circles flared around her. Her mana-sense flooded the entire area—yet Mu Yi had vanished as if erased from existence.

"Master, dimensional disengagement complete."

Aiva flicked a gleaming silver key skyward.

Blinding blue data streams bloomed around her like lotus petals.

A vortex roared at the wormhole’s edge. Two transparent pillars surged from the ground, framing the anomaly like a door.

"Demon lady," the taunting voice whispered at her back, "the cat-and-mouse game ends now."

**[Skill: Shadow Veil]**

Mu Yi’s shadow stretched unnaturally beneath her feet—rippling like water. From its depths, he emerged like a wraith.

*He came from the shadows?!*

She stared dumbfounded as Mu Yi soared through the air, stopping just a meter away.

*No!* Her high-yield spell would detonate *her* at this range.

"Pathetic Archer..."

Her magic circles dissolved. A scythe materialized in her grip, dark energy coiling around its blade.

This human specialized in mid-range harassment and long-range artillery—clearly an Archer.

*How dare a coward who hides in the dark challenge me head-on?*

"You’re suicidal."

Her black scythe swept forward. She smirked, watching Mu Yi charge straight into her strike.

*Fool. An Archer could never—*

"Heh..."

Mu Yi grinned at the descending scythe.

He crossed his arms, casually tossing his modified Desert Eagle into the air.

His shadowy robe dissolved into golden particles that armored his body in an instant.

**[Style Shift: Paladin Knight]**

Within a heartbeat, dazzling armor encased him—golden filigree snaking across its surface like living vines. A deep crimson cape snapped in the wind. Mu Yi lunged, materializing before the stunned demon.

**[Buff: Blade Master’s Resolve]**

**[Mythic Summon: Black Blade / Dark Moon]**

Sword mastery flooded his veins. A colossal black katana materialized in his grip, its edge drinking in the light.

"Secret Sword Art."

No hesitation. Mu Yi’s breath flowed like water as violet patterns flared along the blade.

"You’re an Archer *and* a swords—?!"

**[Swallow’s Return]**

Three crescent slashes cut off her words—converging from impossible angles, sealing her escape.

The air screamed. Violet light flashed—

*Clang!!!*

Mu Yi froze mid-swing.

"Tch. Call it off. This is boring."

He smirked at the demon shielded by colossal black wings. *Seriously? I’m cheating hard enough—how’s she cheating harder? How much did you pay to upgrade those wings?!*

"Human..."

Her four wings spread wide. She stepped forward, crimson eyes burning with killing intent. "You die here."

"Eh, I can’t win—but I can run."

Mu Yi raised his hands in mock surrender. The wormhole awaited. Time to leave.

"Don’t run!"

The demon charged, scythe raised. The ground shattered beneath her momentum.

"If I want to leave," Mu Yi said, swapping back to his black trench coat, "you can’t stop me."

He pulled a grenade from his coat, yanked the pin, and tossed it at her feet.

**[Flashbang]**

Blinding white light flooded the ruins.

"COWARD!!!" she roared, blinded.

---

"Aiva, time to vanish."

Mu Yi swept her into his arms, ruffling her hair. He shot the blinded demon a wicked grin.

"I’ll see you next time, sexy demon lady~~~"

He leaped into the wormhole with Aiva. Behind them, the portal collapsed—shattering into countless particles that faded into the air...