"Darn it, can't connect."

The intruder girl frantically tried to link to the bald man's signal, but got zero response.

She'd been on standby for ages, assuming he was just messing around—until she realized his signal vanished. Something was wrong.

"Damn! How? With his strength, no one could stop him while Central Tower's core members were away... Better report this." As she prepared to switch channels, a voice cut her off.

"Hold up. You might be next."

………………………………………………………………

"Report: all wounded from the Central Control Room have been evacuated," a young man informed Cleyna.

"Good. Get them medical care ASAP."

"Yes, ma'am!"

After he left, Cleyna turned to Lixin, still sprawled on the floor playing dead.

"When do you plan to get up?"

"I'm crippled by villains. No one carried me out—I can't move." Lixin tried bluffing.

"Don't lie. You're not injured at all."

"Bull! You haven't checked. What if it's internal damage?"

"*I'm* getting internal damage from your nonsense!" A vein throbbed on Cleyna's temple before she took a sharp breath, regaining composure.

"These devices look wrecked, but not one's completely destroyed. You claim you arrived just as that bald guy finished his job, failed to stop him, and got beaten..." Her gaze turned razor-sharp. "I doubt he'd be so kind—leaving witnesses *and* equipment intact. Did you think he was sightseeing?"

"I'm dead! I can't hear you!" Realizing Cleyna saw through him, Lixin resorted to shameless denial.

"You little—" Cleyna raised a fist, but her watch chimed.

"Qin Fan?" She answered.

"Cleyna, trouble's coming your way," Qin Fan's muffled voice said.

"What happened?"

"I underestimated her. Failed to stop that girl. She's heading to Central Tower. Students in the auditorium are evacuated. Principal and teachers are en route to your position—intercept her!"

Cleyna froze. A Class A Lightstream Ability User... overpowered by an unknown girl?!

"Understood. Move fast."

"Might take a while..."

Cleyna ended the call. Lixin was gone.

"That bastard... I'll kill him later..."

………………………………………………………………

*Ten minutes earlier.*

"Who are you? Patrol squad?" The girl eyed Qin Fan with utter disdain—nothing like her earlier encounter with Lixin.

"Name's irrelevant. I'll ask after I catch you." Qin Fan showed no mercy. A floating orb materialized above her, rapidly expanding before unleashing a thick beam of light. *BOOM!* A smoking crater marked where she'd stood.

"Only if you can catch me."

Her voice came from behind him. Qin Fan spun, golden energy coating his kick—forcing her back. Then came relentless barrages.

Smoke choked the battlefield. When it cleared, Qin Fan realized his mistake.

"Sorry. Busy. No time to play."

Unscathed, the girl lifted him effortlessly and hurled him toward the auditorium roof. *CRASH!* He embedded himself in the tiles. Only his ability saved him from broken bones.

*Classic caster vs. melee...*

Teachers soon freed him, but the girl had vanished.

*Who decided all hands must attend opening ceremonies?!* Qin Fan's lingering regret...

………………………………………………………………

"*Phew*—escaped. What a hassle. Seriously, what did I even do to them?"

Lixin had slipped through the hole she'd blasted in the wall earlier, gliding down with energy-formed wings before vanishing.

Cleyna never saw her jump. She didn't even know Lixin's ability—only that her unarmed combat was exceptional, reinforced by a hardened substance coating her limbs for offense and defense.

This was Lixin's "restricted ability" facade: unimpressive, unrated, deliberately bottom-tier due to laziness.

No time to dwell. She just wanted a shower and fresh clothes.

"Wait... there was another intruder, right? Eh, probably no stronger than that bald guy. Qin Fan can handle it."

She didn't know Qin Fan already lost. Her shattered watch—destroyed by the bald man's first punch—still stung in her mind.

………………………………………………………………

Central Tower's entrance. Student Council President Cleyna Fordsi stood ready with her combat team, alerted by Qin Fan.

*Tap... tap... tap...*

Soon, a girl in first-year uniform appeared. Her smile was unnaturally stretched. Cleyna's pupils contracted sharply—not from fear, but recognition.

"Alena..."

She spoke the name she'd called for over a decade.

"Long time no see. Never imagined we'd meet like this..." The girl stopped five meters away. "Sister."

Alena Fordsi. Cleyna's half-sister. Missing since a Preyas assault years ago.

"How could you...?" Cleyna couldn't believe her missing sister was the intruder.

"Shocked? Heh." Alena's laugh held mockery. Her face mirrored Cleyna's slightly. "I'm shocked too. My ever-ambitious sister... studying in this dump?"

"Shut your mouth, intruder! You're under arrest!"

Levin, the young man from earlier, charged forward, unable to tolerate insults to their home.

"Trash shouldn't yap. It's annoying."

Alena flicked her wrist—same casual cruelty Lixin would use.

*THUD!*

Levin flew deeper into the tower than Qin Fan had, crashing through alloy walls. Unlikely to survive.

"Levin!" Cleyna screamed his name, then glared at Alena. "Alena, you—"

"Oh, right, sis..." Alena cut her off. "Catch-up later? I'm in a hurry. My Lapthesis unit's waiting downstairs. Your teachers arriving would complicate things..."

"Lapthesis? Alena, you—"

Cleyna's words died as a fist smashed toward her face.

*CRACK!*

"Yep..." Alena grinned, watching her sister barely block the blow with crossed arms.

"Preyas Combatant, Class A 'Titan Strength'—Alena Fordsi. At your service~"

(1080° aerial spin-dive kneel for advice ヾ(๑╹ヮ╹๑)ﾉ")