Alreis rushed through the bustling streets. She had pinpointed the Blessing of Life’s location—and sensed the coordinates shifting. Confirmed: it was truly her. To any Ascendant Sovereign, that life force blazed like a volcanic inferno, intensely scorching.
The past Blessing of Life would never emit such raw energy, despite her profound vitality. As the Ascendant Sovereign of life, her control over her own essence was peerless.
Something was terribly wrong. An Ascendant Sovereign would never recklessly leak power like this—it risked affecting everyone nearby.
Pushing through the dense crowd, Alreis finally spotted a figure ahead.
Truth be told, she’d hoped never to see the Blessing of Life again. Not only was she cunning—the mastermind behind nearly every hunt against Alreis—but also… *imposing* in certain areas. Let’s just say “indecent” was the mildest word. (Whether Alreis judged from a male or female perspective remained unclear.)
Yet shockingly, a little girl stood before her. No scandalous curves—just emerald-green hair radiating life’s essence. Conspicuous, yes, in a world where gold and silver locks ruled.
Still, for one who’d pushed Life Magic to its limits, altered traits were only natural.
“You!” Before Alreis processed her surprise, the girl recognized her, spun around, and vanished into the crowd.
“?!” Alreis froze. *She ran first? I hadn’t even spoken!* Shaking it off, she dove after her.
Neither used magic—they were in the city. Alreis didn’t know why the Blessing of Life held back, but she’d follow suit. Causing a scene meant trouble. Wude had said full power was allowed only in mortal danger… but wrecking the town over it? A waste. And she might lose her place beside Wude.
The chase continued. Magically enhanced bodies sustained the sprint, yet the thick crowd kept the distance stubbornly unchanged.
Then—the unexpected.
“Thud!” Distracted by Alreis, the Blessing of Life collided with a passerby and tumbled down.
“Perfect!” Alreis lunged to seize her—
“What do you think you’re doing to this little girl?!” A hand blocked her.
Standing there was Elisa.
“Weren’t you searching for that item? Why chase this child?” Elisa demanded, helping the girl up.
“Alreis… could this be…?” Wude glanced at her. Alreis gave a slight nod.
Wude eyed the Blessing of Life tearfully clinging to Elisa. A sweatdrop traced his temple. *Are all Ascendant Sovereigns this unreliable?* Lingyue guzzled fake alcohol at home. Alreis? An adorable loli. And this one… crying in Elisa’s arms? *Really an Ascendant Sovereign?*
“Elisa, don’t panic! The item’s right on her!” Alreis wisely skipped mentioning she was founder of the Academy of Life Magic—and ruler of the nation. Elisa wouldn’t believe it.
“—Really?” Elisa studied the girl skeptically. “How could she have it?”
“Look!” Alreis produced the mirror, channeled magic (minor tampering aside), and—*flash!* Blinding light nearly seared the Blessing of Life’s eyes. (Yes, deliberately aimed.)
“No way!” Elisa gasped. *It’s really on her?*
Then—darkness.
“??” Alreis froze. *She’s interfering.* A whisper of magic—minuscule, yet exquisitely precise.
Alreis sent another thread. Light flared. A counter-thread dimmed it. Again. Again.
A silent battle of Ascendant Sovereigns unfolded on the mirror’s surface. Wude and Elisa watched it flicker—bright, dim, bright, dim—while two lolis locked eyes. Almost… amusing.
But a Sage-crafted trinket couldn’t endure sustained Sovereign-level control.
“Crack!” Before Wude’s horror and Elisa’s fury, the mirror shattered.
“My quest item!” Elisa wailed. “The Academy will punish me!”
“…” Both girls froze. Alreis dreaded Elisa’s anger—she was terrible at arguing with girls like her. The Blessing of Life feared being handed to Alreis. With her condition, escape was impossible. Wude’s physique blocked all paths. And magic? Recalling Alreis’s spatial terror made her shudder.
Later, in a storied inn, both knelt on the floor under Elisa’s scolding.
“So—do you understand your mistake?”
“We do!” x2
Wude’s lips twitched. *If Elisa knew she’s scolding the woman she idolizes—the Blessing of Life—and possibly history’s strongest being, Alreis… she’d faint.*
“Enough! Reflect here. I’m bathing. Wude-nii, watch them—no escapes! Or I’ll tell Lingyue-nee about the drawings under your bed!” Elisa warned with surprising trust.
“…” Cold sweat trickled down Wude’s temple. *How did she know?*
“I’m powerless to help…” Wude muttered. “Hang in there, Alreis.”
“What’s under your bed?!” Alreis whispered, stunned her spiritual sense missed it. *What was I even doing?*
“No choice… let’s talk,” Wude deflected. He approached the Blessing of Life, studying her.
“Blessing of Life?”
“Eh?! You know?!” She stared at Alreis. *A mere Level 3 knows my identity?* Alreis must’ve told him… still bizarre.
Alreis read her gaze: involving Wude in Sovereign matters was reckless. Different planes separated them. Without the slave magic binding them, their paths would never cross. A truth she and Wude must face.
“Don’t dwell on it,” Wude cut in, halting her gloom. “You’re here. I need your service.”
“On what authority?!” The Blessing of Life bristled. Even weakened, she wouldn’t submit to a Level 3’s disrespect.
“Heh heh heh!” Wude chuckled. “I like your spirit.”
Alreis shuddered. *Trouble’s coming.*
“Alreis~” Wude smiled. “Tell our esteemed Blessing of Life… about my *secret weapon*?”
“You wouldn’t—?!” Alreis gasped. “It works on *multiple* people?!”
“When did I say it was limited to one…?”
Terror washed over Alreis. *Who invented this?!* Harsh conditions, yes—but success meant instant ascension. It *should* target one person. *Do they think Ascendant Sovereigns grow on trees?!*
“Y-you’re really using it?” Her voice trembled.
“Depends… if our Blessing of Life *cooperates*.” Wude’s eyes held no magic circle—yet gleamed with eerie intent.
“N-no… please…” Her instincts screamed danger.
“Hee hee hee!!!”
“NOOOO!!!”
A despairing wail echoed through the inn.
