Li Shuyi hurriedly activated the Oni Mask's first skill: Wish Power Shield.
Her reaction could hardly have been faster. Chain Lightning dealt damage in multiple strikes; ordinarily, the first bolt paralyzed its target, leaving them frozen in place to take the rest.
But Wish Power Shield not only blocked the first bolt, its immunity to control effects also protected Li Shuyi from the paralysis that followed. With a moment to breathe, she immediately unleashed Invincible Slash, escaped the area of effect, and appeared behind an unlucky Snakefolk Halberd Warrior. Slash, slash, slash, slash...
War Priest Skolata had used the opening created by Chain Lightning to rush forward under the speed boost from Serpentine Movement. But his Twin Serpent Stingers struck only an afterimage of Li Shuyi.
"Damn it. That sword technique again..."
Skolata cursed in frustration. Since he had already charged in, though, he needed something to show for it. He turned his attention to the unfortunate direwolf Rockback—
Rockback had been fighting at Li Shuyi's side, but he had no movement skill as nimble as her Invincible Slash. The first five of the seven lightning bolts struck him in succession.
Every hair on Rockback's body stood on end as paralysis seized him. Skolata drove the Twin Serpent Stingers toward his eyes from either side.
Slash! Clang!
Li Shuyi flashed back into view. She used the final strike of Invincible Slash to return, and her twin swords blocked both stingers without hesitation.
She could not treat the offspring of Wolf Valley as cannon fodder. They would not truly die, but a mortal wound would leave them weakened for a time, and they might never answer a summons again.
Li Shuyi had always envied Bai Xiaowen's summoned army. Now that she finally had a spirit-linked direwolf with whom she shared Heart-to-Heart