Volume One: Intrigue and Deception in the Imperial Capital, Chapter 81: A Hard-Fought Battle

"Gan Ming..."

The West Garden was the same as usual, the room was the same as usual, and the younger brother was the same as usual.

However, Si Nan Ganming sensed something was amiss.

"... What's wrong, Ah Cheng?"

"Gan Ming, for my future, please..."

Si Nan Cheng approached step by step, still with that baby face, but his expression was unusually sinister. Feeling uneasy Si Nan Ganming tried to back away, but found himself unable to move an inch.

"Go to hell!"

The moment the longsword pierced his chest, Si Nan Ganming cried out in alarm and woke up.

"What's wrong, young master?"

The bedroom door was forcefully pushed open from the outside, Gu Rou and several guards rushed in.

"No... it's nothing, just a nightmare..." Si Nan Ganming straightened up, rubbing his head, and poured himself a glass of water.

"Oh, I see... then we won't disturb your rest any longer. We'll go back outside and keep watch." Gu Rou breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that her master was alright, and turned to leave.

"Never mind, it's almost five o'clock, I'm not going to sleep. Xiaorou, bring me my clothes."

"Yes, sir!"

Today is the last day of the clan competition. According to tradition, the competition will start promptly at 7:30 in the morning, and the nobles who want to watch the competition must gather at the palace at least an hour in advance. As arranged in advance, Emperor Si Nan Liang and Prime Minister Haiton Cleon will begin to welcome the guests from the Si Nan Family and Cleon Family at 6:00. It is now 5:00, and the time is about right.

Si Nan Ganming quickly dressed, brushed his teeth, and washed his face. Throughout the process, he kept his brow furrowed—not because he was sleepy, but because of that unsettling dream.

"Wax white and pale yellow, turning crystals into scraps of paper!"

The pigment, like maggots clinging to bones, stained the Blood Crystal Shield and the Shield of Moon Radiance. The originally brilliant colors were covered by yellow and white, making them look like old paper that had been left for decades. Their properties also became as fragile as scraps of paper, falling apart on their own without any external force.

This left Haoyue and me completely exposed to the storm! We had no chance to resist and were easily swept into the air, suffering torment like rag dolls. The razor-sharp wind lashed at our bodies, the pain piercing to the bone. I endured the excruciating pain and held Haoyue tightly. A new layer of crystals enveloped us like a bodysuit, barely isolating us from the outside world.

It can hold out for a while, but not forever. Who knows where his next attack will come from? And how long will it take him to use "dyeing" again to destroy this life-saving crystal layer?

Can we really survive?

This guy is just too strong. After that earth-shattering battle with Haoyue, I thought my strength was already quite formidable. But then I encountered Gong Yan, who could counter me, and I almost lost my virginity. Now I've encountered I·B, who is a hundred times stronger than Gong Yan. At least I could fight back against Gong Yan, but against I·B, I can't even fight on equal terms!

But... we can't give up now.

The warmth of the woman in my arms seeped through my clothes and onto my body.

Even if it's just for the sake of my promise to Haoyue, I must fight with all my might!

"Myriad Tentacles-- "

Blood crystals are indeed incredibly hard and sharp, but they are not the strongest.

Fill the rapidly flowing blood with incomparably sharp blood crystal fragments, creating flowing blades—this is currently the strongest form of my blood!

"--End everything!"

Blood gushed out of our bodies like a tsunami. Centered on us, thousands upon thousands of Blood Tentacles pierced through the storm and shot out in all directions! From afar, it looked like a giant red firework had exploded in the sky! Each tentacle was made primarily of liquid blood, mixed with sharp crystals. One hit would mean certain death or serious injury!

However, as powerful as he is, it's impossible for him to defeat I. B., or even injure him.

Withered Yellow, symbolizing twilight, formed a membrane that enveloped I·B. Every tentacle stained with the Withered Yellow lost its luster, withered, and vanished. But I did not stop. Knowing it was futile, I continued to squeeze out what little power I had left, radiating out tentacle after tentacle.

Because this was the only thing I could do when I was driven to the brink of despair.

There is a difference between being killed after resistance and being killed without resistance.

We are not fighting for victory.

Rather, it was to avoid leaving behind the regret of "being killed without even a proper fight."

To tell this bastard I. B.,

"I'll still--"

In order to prevent this disgusting man from getting too cocky,

"--I didn't give in, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

The bombing was indiscriminate and devastating! Countless tentacles of light bloomed in the air, like missiles crashing heavily into the ground! The warehouse area was completely destroyed, and the roar even drowned out the howl of the storm. Keep going, keep going! I haven't given up yet, I haven't given up, I haven't given up, I haven't given up!

"That's enough... Xiao Ye..."

Haoyue's voice reached my ears.

Just like during my last outburst, my mind, which had been filled with madness, calmed down.

"The storm has just stopped."

"... Huh?"

I removed the crystal layer and looked around. The entire Zhengen Port was a mess; not a single intact building could be found. It was the aftermath of a tornado. But there was no wind in the night sky, not even a wisp.

I looked at I. B. with a puzzled expression, only to see him staring straight at me with a strange light in his eyes.

What's wrong with this guy? Why did he suddenly stop?

"Hey, you lady with the bigger breasts..."

Is he referring to me?

Who are you?

"... What?"

"I thought you were just an ordinary, stunningly beautiful woman with ulterior motives, but it seems you're not like that... I just realized that your special ability is Blood Manipulation, right?"

"... So what?"

"That's strange," I. B.'s voice trembled slightly, he seemed a little excited, "I've heard that the only person in the world who can Blood Manipulation in battle is a senior member of the organization who recently went missing!"

Senior!?

Haoyue looked at me in surprise.

So, the organization that this I. B. belongs to is really--

"Strange, very strange. That senior was infamous in the organization, so why would her abilities appear in you? It would be such a waste to kill you like this. In my opinion..." I. B. laughed, a truly sinister laugh.

"How about we capture you alive and study you properly?♪"

"You wish! Moonsea!!" I. B.'s words seemed to have touched a nerve with the Moon, who swung his longsword, and a surging torrent of light poured down from the sky—directly drenching us!

"Quick! Now!" Haoyue shouted, and a silver veil enveloped us both, allowing us to move freely and unharmed in the ocean of light.

Take advantage of his distraction and get out of there quickly!

Of course, I. B. will never give us that opportunity.

"Silver-white Ocean of Light? It certainly has a certain artistic merit. It seems I underestimated your art... So—"

Silver-gray paint gushed from the palette, like a miniature fountain!

"--To keep you from wandering off, let's do this! Tough Silver-gray, surround the river port!!"

Silver-gray spray splashed in all directions, coloring the air around the harbor. The silver-gray air intertwined and enveloped the entire harbor! The enormous silver-gray wall stretched to the sky, turning the harbor into a giant prison!

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I'll be traveling all day tomorrow, so I probably won't be able to update on the train. Therefore, I'm adding an extra chapter today!

By the way, the name I·B comes from IB Quick-Fire Bullets and IB Horror Art Museum.