"This stronghold's heretics really aren't very powerful... There's no need to warn them. Let them make their own plans and gain some real combat experience."
Aaron darted around inside the Black Sun stronghold. He already had a good grasp of the strength of its members, so he decided to sit back and watch the show.
The next day.
Diat, Wutong Street.
A battered, rusted sign lay on its side. A breeze stirred, sending discarded old newspapers skittering along the street.
Rem, the "Redhead," was carrying out his reconnaissance mission with little enthusiasm when his eyes suddenly lit up.
He saw a girl of about fourteen or fifteen carrying a bag of food into a building.
"Could that be Lin? She's grown a lot taller, but there's no mistaking that face."
Rem hadn't expected to actually stumble upon a wanted fugitive from the church. Excitement rose on his face.
"If I offer her as a sacrifice to [Black Sun], perhaps our Lord will promote me straight to 'Son of Burning'—or even 'Dark Seeker'!"
He licked his lips, unable to hide the greed on his face.
But soon, Rem reminded himself, "No! There's something strange about that woman. She's a favored one of the Moon, and she once caused the Blood Moon Tragedy. Plenty of Unburnt have died at her hands, too... Hurry, hurry and notify Lord Mas!"
Rem crouched low and slipped into the darkness.
He didn't notice the old spiderweb in the corner, which was trembling ever so slightly.
An invisible vibration traveled along its threads and into the building.
Olivia opened her eyes. "That man's gone. He seems quite cautious... Next, those heretics will probably come out in full force. I hope the trap we set works..."
"What a shame... I thought he'd come charging in himself and give me a bit of fun." Lin looked regretfully at her hand.
"No fun, then. What comes next is a major battle."
Olivia's expression was more resolute than ever.
She was no longer the weak, passive girl who simply went with the flow. She had found her faith, and this time, she was fighting for it!
"I've got a general idea of their strength: one Son of Burning and three or four Unburnt... They'll never expect that I have you with me."
A hint of a smile appeared on Lin's face.
"This is the place?"
Mas gazed at the building in front of him, a sinister smile creeping across his face.
"Yes. The target went inside and hasn't come out for a long time. It should be a hideout," Redhead Rem said ingratiatingly.
"Good. If this goes well, I won't forget what you've done." Mas was very pleased. He even felt that today was his lucky day.
Not only had he made rapid progress in the city, he'd also found an important fugitive wanted by the church!
"My lord, how should we carry out the arrest?"
One of the Unburnt asked. He was tall and lean, and held a Revolver in his hand.
"Send two men to guard the back entrance. Then we'll charge straight in... In the face of overwhelming strength, there'll be nowhere for her to hide."
Mas laid out his plan with complete confidence.
Once everyone was in position, a feverish gleam flashed in his eyes. A blazing ball of fire appeared in his hand, and he thrust it forward.
Boom!
The fireball swelled in midair like a grenade, then blew the building's doors apart.
"Move!"
The other three rushed inside. The tall, lean man was at the front.
They raced down the corridor and came upon a room piled with food. Its door stood wide open.
A red dress disappeared around the corner.
"Target spotted! After her!"
Mas's spiritual sense trembled. He was now certain that the person they were after was Lin!
The tall Unburnt ran around the corner and spotted Lin's back. He raised his gun.
Lin hadn't shown many of her abilities in the town, so he didn't know that the girl could turn into blood.
He took aim, a smile spreading across his face as he pictured her back bursting open and blood spraying everywhere.
Thwack!
In the next instant, his expression froze. His head flew into the air, and his headless body crumpled to the ground.
"What happened?"
Mas and another cultist stopped in their tracks. They saw a nearly invisible thread hanging in midair, with drops of blood sliding down it.
The other cultist swallowed. He could picture the poor bastard sprinting at full speed and catching his neck on the thread.
"Damn it... It's the height. At this level, that little girl can run right under it, but an adult would catch it at the neck..."
Mas touched his throat, which was clammy with sweat. "That's one cunning little thing."
He didn't dare keep running. He slowed down and ducked beneath the trap.
Thwack!
Just then, the door beside them burst open, and a blood-red blade thrust out.
Mas dodged as if he had eyes in the back of his head, but the other cultist was stabbed in the chest and crumpled to the ground.
Blood Blade!
Lin opened the door without expression and stepped out. One of her hands was still shaped like a dagger.
"After using a trap to kill my men, you didn't run. You hid and waited to ambush us instead?"
Mas narrowed his eyes. "You've grown a lot, Lin!"
"How's Aike?"
Lin asked hoarsely.
"He died a long time ago. And not only did he die, the High Priest turned his bones into an exhibit!"
Mas's face twisted into a cruel smile. His words dripped with venom.
The moment Lin faltered, he moved!
He hurled a mass of pitch-black flame straight at her.
Boom!
The black fire exploded. Though Lin dodged, the flames still caught her left arm.
Her arm instantly turned into blood, severing the flames clinging to it. It re-formed intact, though her face had turned slightly pale. She charged forward, dagger in hand.
"Damn it!"
Mas had no time to celebrate before Lin's attack was upon him. Her dagger narrowly grazed his stomach, forcing him to stumble back.
"You little bitch!"
He cursed and pulled a black stone from his pocket. Flame-shaped patterns writhed across its surface. "You really have reached the second stage. But why did I still dare to come after you? It wasn't because I brought a bunch of useless lackeys. It's because of this!"
As he spoke, Mas tossed the black stone.
Snap!
In an instant, Lin's vision vanished.
No, it hadn't vanished. It was as if the stone had absorbed all the light around them!
Darkness Descends!
An ability belonging to the third stage—Dark Seeker!
The Black Sun cultists, however, could see clearly in the darkness.
Boom!
Lin's muffled groan rang out in the darkness, followed by several explosions.
At last, the darkness receded.
Lin crumpled to the ground.
Before you continue