The instant the slender rapier pierced the beam of light—

The beam split cleanly around Liu Kai like the sword had cleaved it in two.

“What?”

A flicker of surprise crossed Lin Jincheng’s twisted face as his light beam failed to swallow the rapier.

“Pikachu, I choose you? Wait… weren’t they supposed to shout ‘Soaring to the skies! It’s me!’ next?”

I gaped at the sky, utterly lost for words.

Had Liu Kai been binge-watching too many Pokémon episodes? Even the transformation catchphrase was ripped straight from the show.

“Soaring to the skies! It’s me!”

My thought became reality almost instantly…

After splitting the beam, Liu Kai flapped his wings sharply, raised his rapier toward the heavens, and bellowed the line.

Then he dove like a hawk, blade aimed straight at Lin Jincheng!

“You think a toothpick like that can beat me? How naive!”

Lin Jincheng didn’t flinch as Liu Kai plummeted toward him. A smug, relaxed smirk curled his lips. He crossed his arms defensively over his chest.

The next second, Liu Kai’s blade struck true—right where Lin Jincheng’s arms shielded him.

Crimson scales, hard as armor plating, blocked the rapier’s tip from piercing deeper.

The blade simply couldn’t break through.

“What?”

Liu Kai’s eyes widened. The scales hadn’t shattered like he’d expected.

Failing to land the hit, he flapped his wings hard, jerking his body upward to put distance between them.

“Scared already, bird-brain? I thought you were all big talk?” Lin Jincheng called after him, voice dripping with mockery, his disdain plain as day.

“Kyuubi, can we stop this fight?”

Watching them clash… honestly—

I didn’t want to see this.

I’d realized the middle-aged man was fighting to kill Lin Jincheng.

If Lin Jincheng lost…

That uncle wouldn’t show an ounce of mercy. He’d end him.

And that—I couldn’t bear to witness.

Lin Jincheng’s hands were stained with blood. I hated him for it.

But his death…

I still recoiled at the thought.

Who’d want to watch someone they know die right before their eyes?

“No. Once they’ve contracted with Bonesoul, there’s no saving them,” Kyuubi shook its head, delivering the worst possible answer.

“Can’t the contract be broken?”

“No. Even killing their contracted beast won’t sever the pact with Bonesoul.”

“The contract won’t vanish?”

“It won’t. They can never walk away from this world again.”

“This…”

“The moment they agreed, their fate was sealed.”

“…”

The idea that touching Bonesoul meant no turning back…

I couldn’t accept it.

But what choice did I have?

No answer came. I bowed my head, heavy with defeat.

Meanwhile, Lin Jincheng and Liu Kai’s battle raged on.

But Liu Kai’s skill didn’t match his bragging.

He was all talk.

His face darkened with frustration as he struggled to breach Lin Jincheng’s defense.

Every strike of his rapier skittered uselessly off the thick scales—as if they were born to counter his slender blade.

His rhythm shattered.

“What happened to your big speech about ‘hunting me down’?” Lin Jincheng’s grin widened, realizing the rapier couldn’t pierce him. “Cat got your tongue? Keep roaring!”

He flicked his wrist. Crimson magic circles flared before him. Seconds later, searing beams of light erupted from them—all aimed at Liu Kai.

“Damn it! How’s his shell so thick?!”

Liu Kai frantically dodged, wings beating wildly as he zigzagged through the air. His movements were frantic, clumsy—nothing like his earlier poise. He looked like a startled chicken.

“Let me help you!”

Shen Shiyu’s voice cut through the chaos. She’d just regained consciousness. Seeing Liu Kai fight, she guessed he was an ally. She scrambled up, wand raised.

A massive magic circle bloomed before Liu Kai, swallowing every one of Lin Jincheng’s beams.

“Flower of Lament!”

Once the beams were absorbed, Shen Shiyu swung her wand toward Lin Jincheng.

The circle in the sky responded. Thick, viscous yellow droplets began oozing from its edges.

Seconds later, a downpour of glowing yellow liquid poured from the circle like acid rain.

“Snap out of it! Your friend doesn’t think before acting, does she?”

Kyuubi stared grimly at the magic circle overhead. Its voice snapped me back to reality.

I looked up. Shen Shiyu’s colossal magic circle stunned me for a split second.

But then the problem hit me.

This spell…

Judging by Kyuubi’s warning, it probably didn’t distinguish friend from foe.

“Kyuubi, what do I do?” I asked, forcing strength back into my limbs as the danger sank in.

“Summon Yalkotira! Or this whole school will dissolve under your friend’s magic!”

“But…”

Summoning Yalkotira meant…

I hesitated, remembering the outfit that came with it.

That dress…

It made me cringe with embarrassment.

“What are you waiting for? Those droplets will melt everyone here!” Kyuubi pressed, more frantic than I was. It seemed desperate to save the school.

“I—I know…”

I gritted my teeth. My brother was still inside.

If Kyuubi was right, I had to stop that rain.

Yellow droplets were already hitting the ground, eating through concrete. One splashed my arm.

Seering pain shot straight to my brain.

No more hesitation.

I yanked the Yalkotira card and slammed it into the slot.

The belt whirred mechanically.

“Card detected…”

“Identifying type…”

“Identification complete.”

“Reading card data… Weapon profile acquired.”

“Loading: ‘Ferric Bastion—Yalkotira—Bulwark of Will’!”

“Load complete. Materialization sequence initiating…”

“Yalkotira, manifest!”

As the belt chimed ready, I hurled Fimilaharde skyward.

It dissolved into shimmering particles.

In its place, a massive cross-shaped shield materialized in my hands.

The moment I gripped it, my light blue mini-dress with white lace frills transformed into an elegant black evening gown (that looked stunning on others).

But there was no time to dwell on that.

Something far more urgent demanded my attention.

I yanked a card from Yalkotira’s back.

Just when I’d regained a sliver of strength, I had to clean up Shen Shiyu’s mess.

*Sigh…*

“Yalkotira isn’t just a shield, you know!” Kyuubi called as I prepared to slot the card.

*It’s a cross!* I thought, baffled. *Doesn’t look like any shield I’ve seen.*

Still puzzled, I inserted the card.

“Card detected…”

“Identifying category…”

“Success. Category: Skill—Ultimate Card. Acquiring data…”

“Ultimate skill data loaded. Activating: ‘Gulraland’s Wall of Sighs’!”

“Ultimate Card?” I pulled out a different card, startled by the belt’s announcement. I glanced at Kyuubi.

“If there are regular skill cards, of course there are Ultimates,” Kyuubi replied matter-of-factly, as if it were obvious.

“That makes sense, but can my body even—”

I was exhausted. Just standing took effort. Using a skill—let alone an Ultimate—would drain me completely.

“Don’t overthink it. If you want these people saved, you’ll endure.”

Kyuubi knew my limits. I could tell it hated asking this of me.

But the school was dissolving.

I had no choice but to push my trembling body further.

“Fine. I’m almost out of cards anyway. All or nothing!”

I raised Yalkotira high.

I refused to let my family die here.