Linne's Defeat

Dugu Qing tossed Stark toward Lügner and used the Qi Manipulation Technique to help him move through the air, splitting his attention between two tasks.

"Fern, don't worry! I'll protect you."

Floating in the air, Stark felt better than ever.

He was flying! This was the first time he had flown "on his own," without someone holding him up by his waistband!

It felt wonderful, like being a bird.

"Idiot! I'm enough to deal with you."

Draht tightened his grip on the threads of mana in his hand and cast them at Stark.

Worried about Fern and Frieren's safety, Dugu Qing drew the Clear Radiance Sword and pointed it at Linne, glaring at her.

"I'll finish you off as quickly as I can."

Before his words had faded, Dugu Qing swung his sword. Vast, domineering divine power poured forth like an endless flood, shaking the mountains and rivers.

Linne watched the attack bearing down on her, her lashes trembling slightly and her eyes turning cold.

Imitation was an instinct shared by humans and demons. In other words, it was learning.

Humans and demons imitated and learned from one another.

When people in one country invented paper, people in another would imitate them.

A new delicacy would appear out of nowhere and soon become popular all over the world.

At the root of it all was the instinct to imitate.

Linne had studied Imitation Magic for nearly a century and had seen all kinds of experts, including Himmel, Heiter, Eisen, and Frieren.

Of all the opponents she had fought, Himmel was the strongest swordsman.

Facing the imposing Dugu Qing, Linne did not hesitate for a moment. She imitated the most powerful swordsman she had ever seen and conjured a sword.

She reproduced Himmel's exceptionally exquisite swordsmanship, his posture and footwork, the paths of his sword, and the techniques with which he applied force, all with near perfection.

Linne's nimble figure danced through the air, narrowly evading Dugu Qing's lightning-swift strike before immediately launching an incomparably sharp sword technique.

"I didn't expect your swordsmanship to be so good!"

Delighted to have found a worthy opponent, Dugu Qing held his sword across his chest and blocked the deadly blow.

"Clang!"

Metal rang against metal, but the force behind her blow was slight. Dugu Qing's eyes flickered.

Linne, your sword techniques are incredibly intricate, so why is the strength in your hands so feeble?

What a pity!

If you were a little stronger, even I would have a hard time defeating you!

"Ha!"

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. Linne's sword techniques were still exquisite, swift, precise, and ruthless, but in Dugu Qing's eyes, they had lost their menace.

A chill rose from the bottom of Linne's heart. Holding her breath, she concentrated on imitating the sword techniques she had seen in the past.

Her lithe figure weaved through the storm of attacks. As she avoided their edge, countless fierce sword shadows slashed out in succession, every strike swift and nimble, aimed straight at the openings all over Dugu Qing's body.

After defending against several attacks, Dugu Qing gauged Linne's strength and unleashed his final offensive.

Overlord Divine Power erupted with overwhelming force, sweeping out in every direction.

Linne had no time to dodge and could only meet the attack head-on.

Two utterly different forces collided with a thunderous crash as Dugu Qing swung his sword with all his might.

The Fake Hero's Sword Linne had conjured shattered with a crash.

Her face was pale, her breathing rapid, her arms trembling and her legs swaying. Her eyes were filled with despair.

Am... am I going to die?

Damn it, I haven't even kissed Dugu Qing yet! What a terrible pity!

Dugu Qing swung his sword, its edge stopping just one centimeter from Linne.

He looked at Linne's pretty face, pale as paper, and gritted his teeth. In the end, he still could not bring himself to kill a cute-looking little girl.

But the intense hatred between humans and demons reverberated in his heart, and he could not bring himself to let Linne go either.

The situation seemed to have reached a stalemate.

"Phew..."

Seeing that Dugu Qing had shown mercy, Linne breathed a sigh of relief. An overwhelming desire to live welled up in her heart, and she looked at Dugu Qing, on the verge of tears.

"Don't kill me. Take me as your maid! I can cook, and I can wash clothes and massage your shoulders and legs. I might not be very strong, but it's enough to serve you..."

Among demons, the defeated became the property of the victor.

Following the demons' rules, Linne did her utmost to ingratiate herself with Dugu Qing, hoping he would spare her.

"A maid? What nonsense is that?"

Dugu Qing was stunned by Linne's way of thinking. They were in the middle of a battle! How had Linne come up with that? It was too strange!

"Promise me you won't hurt humans again, and I'll let you go."

Dugu Qing placed his hand around Linne's neck and squeezed lightly, lifting her up.

It seemed that if Linne refused, he would show no mercy.

"I..."

Linne stared blankly at Dugu Qing, struggling to breathe as her heart beat faster.

He's touching me, he's touching me! Dugu Qing's hand feels so good.

Though his grip was full of aggression and left her unable to breathe, Linne could not bring herself to hate him at all. Instead, she was even happier.

"I promise."

Deception was a demon's instinct, and Linne agreed without a second thought.

After this battle, she had gained a clearer understanding of her own strength.

She decided that, as long as she could get away from here, she would stay obediently in a mountain ravine and practice Imitation Magic, imitating the magic of the Demon King, Serie, and the Goddess of Creation.

As long as she was given enough time and experience, she believed she would surely grow stronger.

Then, a few hundred years later, she would defeat Dugu Qing and make him prostrate himself at her feet!

"I'll never hurt humans again, and I won't be your enemy either. Please, spare me!"

Imitating the most haggard and forlorn expression she could remember, Linne gazed pitifully at Dugu Qing through tear-filled eyes.

"It's over."

Dugu Qing lowered his head and eyes, then expressionlessly threw Linne several hundred meters away.

Linne landed in the forest and took the opportunity to escape.

As she left, Linne turned to look back, lingeringly committing Dugu Qing's face to memory before departing, full of energy.

Dugu Qing looked toward the other battlefields. Fern was fighting Lügner, while Stark fought Draht.

Fern was a human girl, lovely and fair-skinned, so she ought to receive support.

As for Stark, a rough fellow, he could play with Draht a little longer!

For a young man to sweat and bleed a little, strengthening his body's ability to produce blood, was nothing bad.

Fern, here I come.

"Damn it! Has Linne been defeated already?"

Noticing Dugu Qing approaching, Lügner's expression hardened, and he immediately cast Blood Manipulation Magic.

Crimson blood surged from his palm, spreading freely like vines. It crossed and intertwined in layers, forming blood-red barriers all around him in an instant and turning into an airtight shield.

"This guy's really cunning! Is he planning a battle of attrition?"

Floating in the air, Fern saw straight through Lügner's tactics.

"Let's do it together!"

Dugu Qing and Fern's eyes met for an instant, and they channeled their mana in unison.

Two vast Mana Bullets blasted forth from the left and right, smashing straight through the layers of blood-red barriers and piercing Lügner's body with unstoppable force.

"Wonderful! This is the first time I've fought alongside Dugu Qing! Maybe we can even create powerful couple skills in the future!"

Watching Lügner's body gradually disappear, Fern was full of joy.

Having dealt with Lügner, Dugu Qing swiftly flew toward Draht. His figure flashed, and he severed Draht's head.

All three of Aura's Executioners had been "wiped out."