"With Sirius Killer's three stars shining brightly, death is already written into his fate. No matter where he flees or whom he encounters, he's doomed."
As if declaring destiny itself, she nonchalantly wrote the ending for her enemy.
"—Shizhou and Light will definitely die today, die within Xiematai."
「.」
The Crow Tengu spread its wings, soaring high in the sky. It glided over a vast distance, only to fall powerlessly to the ground. Lying there, it spat out gleaming blood, its shattered face still bearing charred traces.
The Stigma trembled.
He suddenly realized that perhaps Ye Xueya was just trying to scare him. Perhaps if he turned around now, there was still time to kill Ye Xueya.
But what was the point? I've already lost. Just as she said, I was defeated by the grand scheme of things. Wielding a Miracle Imprint and still fighting so disgracefully... what face do I have to go back and keep pestering her?
Tianshi'ao leaned against a wall, struggling to mend his wounds, feeling a deep anger and shame welling up from within.
He was now too weak to sustain another Fourth Stage battle.
The curse of the stars, deep as bone marrow, entwined his Stigma, causing the Crow Tengu's wings to twitch in spasms. His broken face was a mask of ferocity and pain.
Just what kind of Divine Application was that? To even carry the effect of the Dongxia Genealogy's Miracle Imprint: Destiny Arrow Book?
No matter what, he had to rid himself of this curse first to have any chance of surviving; otherwise, he was sure to be tormented to death by it.
Trembling, he waved his hand, dispelling the fierce light of the Ten Grip Sword. He released his hold, allowing the Hachiman Bow to soar into the air and fly away on its own, disappearing under the call of some mysterious power.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
Even if I die here, the Hachiman Bow must not be lost.
Shortly after, two feathers emerged from where the Hachiman Bow had vanished, drifting down into Tianshi'ao's hands.
An aged voice rang in his ear—not the expected rebuke, but a sigh laden with worry. "Return safely, Tianshi'ao. Failure is not shameful," the voice said. "Don't die. Only the living have a future."
Tianshi'ao froze. After a long moment, he couldn't stop himself from kneeling. Astonishment struck him first, immediately followed by an indescribable self-blame, and tears streamed down his face.
"I will definitely not fail my master's teachings," he vowed.
Clenching his teeth, he wiped away the tears, tightly gripping the two precious feathers from his master—these were two chances, enough to guide him through this brush with certain death.
The two feathers settled on his temples. One flew out first, circling him a few times. It seemed to sense the fate entangling him, yet appeared unable to act against the certainty of his death.
Then, it ascended, guiding him far away.
Soon, in his desperate flight, that feather suddenly burned to ashes, its final embers pointing to a figure walking in a small alley.
Tianshi'ao's eyes widened.
As if afraid of being recognized, the person was shrouded in a black robe, even their face covered, not revealing a single inch of skin. He carried a huge pack on his back and held a map, seemingly searching for some place.
Guided by the feather, he instinctively sensed the other person's hidden aura, and also something concealed within their pack—That thing... it can save me!
On his shattered countenance, the Crow Tengu's surviving eye flashed with grim determination.
There's no need to cause extra trouble by tangling with that Sublimator. Grab the item and leave. I mustn't rashly start a fight.
Having made up his mind, the Crow Tengu, hidden behind the clouds, dove down, transforming into a silent black shadow plunging toward the mysterious person.
Swift as lightning.
But in that instant, as if sensing something, the mysterious figure abruptly turned, frowning beneath their mask.
He waved his hand.
From the air behind him, the outline of a Steel Giant suddenly emerged. It rose with its master, the iron mask covering its face swiftly unfolding as two sharp antennae extended to the sides.
Immediately after, the pure white Armor covering its entire body fiercely flipped open, revealing an unsettling, fiery crimson glow from within.
"OHHHHH~~~"
Amidst a bizarre, CLANGING and CHIMING melody, the chants of countless people erupted from speakers.
A flash of light shot from the Giant's eyes. The enormous Border Relic from Odaiba raised its hand, following its master's movements, and swatted forward.
Laplace's Algorithm: Autonomous assessment initiated. Scan complete. Calculation finished.
RX-0, Destructive mode initiated.
—Maximum output!
BOOM!
Like an iron wall sweeping across, it kicked up a furious squall. Amidst the thunderous roar, the attacking black shadow was blasted backward, vanishing instantly at the edge of the sky.
What the hell?
The mysterious person watched the black shadow get sent flying, perplexed. He shook his head in confusion. Whatever. Xiematai is crawling with overconfident attackers like that anyway...
He looked down at the marked position on the map, following the increasingly clear, gentle melody, and continued searching for the art gallery.
Behind him, the figure of the Steel Giant slowly dissipated, as if it had never appeared.