Otto Kept Retreating, but It Was an Act: He Intended to Lose to Her

When the Light Screen lit up again, the scene had shifted from the wasteland back to the center of Kolosten. Durandal stood before a High Tower wrapped in an Imaginary Storm. Her armor was riddled with cracks and the wind had tangled her blonde hair, but her eyes shone brighter than ever. In front of her, Otto slowly emerged from the shadows.

"You're finally here." Otto smiled, as though welcoming a guest who had arrived late.

"I'm here to stop you," Durandal said. Her voice was quiet, yet it rang as clear as a sword leaving its sheath.

"You've always been the strongest." Otto nodded, making no attempt to deny it. "So I didn't prepare an opponent for you. The only person who can stop you is yourself."

On the screen, Otto moved first. He raised a hand, and dark golden light poured from his fingertips, threatening to engulf the entire street. Durandal met it head-on. Her fist struck the golden light, unleashing a shock wave visible to the naked eye. After several exchanges, Otto was forced back step by step.

"He's retreating." Tang Wulin frowned. "He can't beat her?"

"He's pretending," Huo Yuhao said at once. "He never intended to win. He intends to lose to Durandal."

"Why?" Bei Bei asked, baffled.

"Because he wants her to lower her guard, to believe she can win, to keep moving forward. Then he'll push her through that door," Huo Yuhao said.

Sure enough, the moment Durandal shattered the last Light Screen before Otto with a punch, he smiled. His body thinned like mist scattering in the wind and drifted backward. At the same time, a door woven from Stigmata patterns opened silently behind Durandal. Pale, ancient light spilled from within, revealing what looked like a tunnel into the depths of time.