Mei turned to Kiana and said, "I'm going to do something: secure your chance to live"

Tang Wulin took a deep breath.

"She will be the biggest surprise in Kevin's plan."

Huo Yuhao looked at Kiana and slowly said, "It is also a truly unpredictable variable in the Finality."

A'Dai closed his eyes, as if mourning the impending war.

"Otto's era is over."

"But the real challenge is just beginning."

At the end of the scene, Kevin stands on an endless Ice Field.

The cold wind whipped his cloak, and the World Serpent banner fluttered behind him.

He looked up at the end of the Sky Vault, at the enormous crack that was gradually awakening.

"The Finality near."

Humanity must make a choice.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the distance, Kiana also raised her longsword.

A crimson light ignited on the sword's edge.

She knew that what awaited her was neither a Creator nor a pre-arranged life.

It was not a storm, but a storm that swept across all of humanity.

He is Kevin, who bears the fate of all humanity on his shoulders.

It's the cold and ruthless Holy Mark Plan.

It is also the absolute calamity known as the Finality.

But she still took a step forward.

She once severed the fate of tools with her sword.

[Now, she will, with her own unique miracle, transcend humanity's final Finality.]

The real challenge has only just begun.

The Light Screen did not turn off immediately.

The phrase "The real challenge has only just begun" hung like a sword over everyone's heads, yet it lingered for a long time before falling.

The next moment, a pair of purple eyes suddenly lit up in the pitch-black scene.

Calm, exhausted, yet with an unwavering resolve.

She was once Kiana's most important companion.

[He's also the only one willing to step into the darkness to protect Kiana.]

The image gradually became clear.

On the ruins of Changkong City, a girl stood alone amidst the wind and snow. Her long purple hair was whipped about by the gale, and the blade in her hand reflected a chilling light.

She didn't turn around.

Behind her stood the silent Kiana.

"Mei- senpai..."

Kiana's voice was very soft, as if she was afraid of waking up from a dream she didn't want to face.

Mei closed her eyes briefly.

Kiana, stay here.

And what about you?

I have something to do.

"What's up?"

Mei finally turned around, her gaze falling on her face.

There was no tenderness in that gaze, only a resolute determination bordering on cruelty.

"Go and trade it for your chance to live."

Outside the Light Screen, Ning Rongrong subconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes.

"She's going alone?"

"She's not alone." Tang San's expression darkened. "She's going to seek refuge with the most dangerous enemy."

In the image, a giant black snake symbol stretches across the sky.

A base suspended above a sea of clouds slowly appeared, its cold lights like countless emotionless eyes watching Mei step into it.

At the end of the corridor, Kevin stood with his back to her.

"You want to join World Serpent?"

"Yes."

"For Kiana?"

"Yes."

The two answers were both straightforward and without the slightest hesitation.

Kevin turned his head to the side.

Do you know what the World Serpent is?

"Know."

"I also know that after joining here, you might be seen as an enemy by all your former comrades."

Mei remained silent for a moment.

"As long as Kiana lives, nothing else matters."

Xu Sanshi slapped his thigh suddenly.

"That's way too direct! Didn't she consider what would happen to her if she joined?"

"She thought about it," Bei Bei said. "It was precisely because she thought about it that she made this choice."

"But what if she dies?" Xiao Xiao asked softly.

No one answered.

Because Mei in the picture is already kneeling on one knee, with her palm pressed on the cold ground.

"I am willing to fulfill the transaction."

Kevin looked at her.

"You're carrying out a mission for the World Serpent; I guarantee Kiana won't die because of the Holy Mark Plan."

"Make a deal."

Tang Wulin frowned.

"To surrender oneself to the enemy in exchange for the safety of one's comrades. This decision seems brave, but it's far too dangerous."

Gu Yuena said calmly, "She doesn't believe Kevin."

"She simply believed that as long as she remained with the World Serpent, she could draw the danger to herself."

Huo Yuhao added softly, "She wants to be a buffer between Kiana and Kevin."

Tang San's eyes flickered slightly.

"But such buffers are often the first to be torn apart."

The moment the words were spoken, the Light Screen suddenly trembled.

The cold, impersonal subtitles appeared.

[First Mission: The New Generation Ice Law User.]

On the snow-covered plains, a storm swept across the land, carrying Ice Crystal crystals.

A figure shrouded in icy cold stood in the eye of the storm, ice spreading from her feet, freezing everything in her path—mountains, roads, buildings.

Mei's figure fell from mid-air.

Lightning exploded beneath her feet.

Without saying a word, she raised her hand and slashed.

The purple blade of light pierced through the wind and snow, but was blocked by countless ice walls the instant it touched its target.

Click!

The ice wall cracked.

The next second, dozens of ice spikes came from all directions.

Mei flashed, leaving afterimages in her wake, narrowly avoiding the attack.

"She's so fast," He Caitou couldn't help but say.

"Fast, but not for offense." Tian Hen carefully observed the scene. "She's probing the Herrscher's attack methods."

"Observe first, then look for weaknesses." Ye Yinzhu nodded slightly. "She didn't rashly unleash her power just because the other party was Herrscher."

The Ice Law User raised her hand.

The entire snowfield suddenly fell silent.

Immediately afterwards, an extremely cold domain suddenly unfolded, freezing the lightning around Mei and slowing down her movements.

"It's over."

A cold voice came from the wind and snow.

Countless Ice Crystal condensed into a giant Long Spear, hovering above Mei's head.

Just as the Long Spear was about to fall, Mei suddenly sheathed her sword.

"What?"

Instead of retreating, she charged towards the ice spear.

The lightning was compressed to its limit on the blade, and the originally scattered arcs of electricity condensed into a single, dazzling purple light.

Boom...!

The ice spear clashed head-on with the lightning blade.

The massive shockwave whipped up a cloud of snow.

Mei's arms were cut by the cold air, leaving several bloody marks, but she did not stop. Using the force of the collision, she forcibly changed direction and rushed into the Herrscher's front by stepping on the broken ice.

"Found it."

The blade slashed horizontally.

The lightning pierced through the ice armor and struck the core precisely.

The Ice Law User froze in place.

For the first time, fear appeared in those eyes that had been shrouded in coldness.

The next moment, the ice layer shattered like a tidal wave.

[The new generation of Ice Law User, crushed.]

[Herrscher Core, Recover.]

Ning Tian took a soft breath.

"She deliberately injured herself."

"Trading injury for position." Dai Hao's gaze sharpened. "As long as the core location can be confirmed in the shortest time, she's even willing to take the hits herself."

Niu Tian said in a deep voice, "This is not an ordinary battle."

"Every time she drew her knife, it was as if she were risking her life."

Tai Tan glanced at him.

"Because she has someone she must protect."