So fast!
Tianshi'ao's pupils dilated as he quickly retreated, attempting to dodge the piercing Sword of North Dipper. He felt the cold light at his back, a chill almost seeping into his soul.
All along, in his understanding, Ye Xueya was known for using Illusion Technique, Source Substance applications, and Stigma combined to form Curses—in other words, a mage.
But now, Ye Xueya's swordsmanship had even shocked the Crow Tengu.
It wasn't that it was spectacularly brilliant, but it was like a dead nerd at a comic convention walking into the bathroom and seeing the Miss who had just posed for photos.
Why is she even faster than me!
But there wasn't enough time for him to react. The Ten Grip Sword blocked. A crack appeared on the blade of the Sword of North Dipper, but the bone-chilling cold, even through the Miracle Imprint, shook his soul, causing the Stigma of the Crow Tengu to split open.
Death's poison wrapped around him!
He stepped back, and in that single step, he regrouped, raising his Sword Blade to slash forward. But then he saw the Sword of North Dipper, so close it was almost within reach...
Too fast! Why is it this fast! Incomprehensible!
At the life-and-death juncture, Tianshi'ao had no time to think. His iron-like mind cast aside fear and hesitation, lashing out with a sword strike as if staking his life, ready to exchange blow for blow!
The Ten Grip Sword had slashed through Ye Xueya's form, which remained unharmed due to Reality Conversion, but its Divine Nature struck and wounded the North Dipper Stigma once more.
Ye Xueya's expression remained unchanged.
Yet Tianshi'ao let out a painful roar as one of the Crow Tengu's black wings severed at the root. The Tengu's wing was broken. The Stigma convulsed violently, barely able to support the burden of the Miracle Imprint.
This woman has completely lost her mind!
He finally saw the faintly glowing starlight beneath their feet. It was the light from countless shattered stars, but their orbits were no longer as they had been.
The Star Field shattered; Shin and Shang confronted each other!
The areas of Shin and Shang overlapped at this moment. No matter how he dodged, Ye Xueya was always within reach.
This was Fate's decree.
As if feeling no pain, Ye Xueya's face remained expressionless. She raised the Sword of North Dipper and struck again!
Tianshi'ao roared, lifting the Ten Grip Sword horizontally to block the descending North Dipper. But unexpectedly, he saw Ye Xueya's left hand, hidden behind her back, suddenly shoot out and press against his face.
In that last instant, he saw a brilliance of stars he had never witnessed in his life.
Her fingers suddenly tightened.
Blistering starlight shot out from the gaps between her fingers, engulfing the Crow Tengu's face with a purity that neared terror.
The Source Substance was rapidly depleting, like a waterfall.
A smile curled at the corners of Ye Xueya's lips as she smiled expectantly.
Precisely because the consumption was so fearsome, she hadn't had a chance to unleash this move since she pilfered it from the old man's pocket three years ago...
Now, supported by the Fourth Stage North Dipper, the Terrible Power inherited along the path of Sky's Command burst forth!
—Divine Application: Sirius Killer!
In an instant, Tianshi'ao screamed in agony, his entire face turning to charcoal.
The Stigma of the Crow Tengu was riddled with holes under the piercing, harsh starlight, severely wounded!
He howled, lifting the Ten Grip Sword in his agony, slashing down recklessly.
BOOM!
The blockade enveloping all of Ginza shattered in an instant. With his remaining single wing unfurled, he rose into the sky, not entertaining a single thought of counterattack, and whistled away.
He's escaped...
In the deadly silence, Ye Xueya stood quietly amidst the collapsed Mitsukoshi Great Building, watching his retreating figure. She scoffed disdainfully and sheathed the Sword of North Dipper.
Only now did the members from the Social Security Bureau, who hadn't dared show themselves from a distance, peek out.
Luo Shen, bolder than the rest, stepped forward to ask, "Boss, aren't we going to chase him?"
Ye Xueya glanced at him for a long while before hooking her finger, signaling him to come over. Luo Shen approached, confused.
What followed was Ye Xueya suddenly vomiting a large mouthful of blood. She leaned against the wall, supporting herself on his shoulder, and gasped for breath.
"Chase my ass! Do you really think I'm some indestructible Iron Giant?"
She raised her head, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead, "Lucky I scared him off. Otherwise, if he'd come to his senses and decided to fight me head-on, I would've been done for..."
No matter that we're all Fourth Stage, how could having a Miracle Imprint compare to having jack shit! Even a makeshift Miracle Imprint is still a Miracle Imprint.
Regardless of how tough Ye Xueya was, she hadn't dared let him land even two blows; scaring him off had been an outstanding performance.
It was all thanks to Stone Boat being naturally too cautious and suspicious, plus the significant psychological trauma she'd inflicted on him back then. Otherwise, today's performance would have been a complete flop.
Luo Shen thought for a moment. "Then should we pack up and run?"
Otherwise, if that guy comes to his senses and launches a Backfire, won't we be in trouble?
"Run? Why should we run?" Ye Xueya sneered, shaking her head, "From the moment he decided to run, he lost his chance to take me down with him."
The Divine Application from the Xuan Niao Secret, Sirius Killer... did he really think it was as simple as a slap on the face, casually over and done with? The North Dipper's ability to decree life and death, paired with such a Skill, can directly modify Fate!
She raised her eyes, glanced at the few stars intermittently visible amid the overhead clouds, and slowly shook her head.