Survive

"You didn't need to set up a domain. I wasn't going anywhere anyway."

Threads gathered in Wu Xin's hands, forming a pure white umbrella. Countless strands extended from beneath her feet, connecting the two buildings and creating a temporary web bridge.

Wu Xin sprinted through the rain toward the floor where the two of them were.

"So fast!" Lin Yue cried out.

With the web beneath her feet lending her support, the distance of several dozen meters took Wu Xin only two or three seconds to cross.

Sharp claw-like blades woven from threads covered her hands as she slashed fiercely at their faces.

Without hesitation, Chen Xi activated Berserk. As the Succubus traits emerged, her speed surged instantly.

She kicked away Lin Yue, who had been too slow to react, then abruptly crouched, dodging Wu Xin's lethal strike.

Seizing the chance while Wu Xin could not retreat in time after exerting herself, Chen Xi drove a heavy punch into her abdomen.

"Bang!!!"

Wu Xin was blasted into the classroom wall by the punch. Dust scattered everywhere, obscuring her figure.

The impact felt wrong.

Chen Xi flexed her stiff fingers. Wu Xin had probably protected her abdomen with threads at the last moment.

Why would a mage rush into close combat?

Chen Xi's expression darkened. There was probably a trick to this.

"Watch out!" she warned Lin Yue beside her.

The blonde girl, who had been about to approach, immediately leaped backward.

As the dust cleared, Wu Xin was embedded in the distant wall, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth.

"Hehe."

"That was a pretty good punch." She wiped away the blood.

"As expected of little Xi. You managed to force me this far just after gaining control of the Rain Lord."

Wu Xin's emerald-green eyes gazed at the two of them with tender affection.

"I love it... I love it... I love it..."

She staggered to her feet. The threads seemed to possess a will of their own as they tore viciously toward the two girls like venomous snakes.

With nowhere to evade, Lin Yue could only activate Shadow Form.

The threads passed through Lin Yue's body, then lashed toward Chen Xi standing behind her.

Faced with the web right before her, the black-haired girl neither dodged nor moved. Fine streams of water shot out beside her like spikes, shredding Wu Xin's web into pieces.

Just as the battle reached a stalemate, Chen Xi suddenly climbed onto the railing.

She had observed earlier that, in order to conserve stamina, Wu Xin had not laid any threads above her.

There was not much time left. She had to risk everything.

So... she shouted, "Lin Yue!"

Lin Yue merely glanced at her, then knowingly pressed a tentacle against the sole of her shoe.

"Bang!"

With unstoppable momentum, Chen Xi soared into the air, clearing the height of the web entirely.

Realizing her intent, Wu Xin hurriedly redirected her threads to interfere. The threads in midair were about to entangle Chen Xi's left leg.

Chen Xi closed her eyes, controlling and sensing the water flow with all her strength.

The instant the threads touched her calf, Chen Xi snapped her eyes open.

...Now!!!

The water she had stored earlier exploded behind her. Like a second booster, it sent Chen Xi flying straight toward Wu Xin.

With just one left hook, Wu Xin crumpled heavily to the ground, her control over the threads cut off.

Chen Xi gripped her throat tightly, her furious fists raining down endlessly upon Wu Xin's head.

"Bang bang bang!!!"

Only when Wu Xin's face had been beaten into a bloody pulp and half her body was buried in the floor did Chen Xi stop her trembling fists.

"It's over." She gasped for breath, her chest heaving violently.

"We won?!" Lin Yue had yet to process it, but a trace of secret delight had already crept into her voice.

"We won."

To prevent Wu Xin from playing dead, Chen Xi used the last of her water to form a Water Blade and sever her head.

Lin Yue jogged over. When she saw Wu Xin's corpse, she nearly jumped up in excitement.

"We really won!" The gloom in the blonde girl's eyes vanished completely.

She tightly embraced Chen Xi, burying her head in the black-haired girl's chest.

"Let go. You're getting my clothes all wet..."

Lin Yue puffed out her cheeks and hugged her even tighter. "No."

Chen Xi looked helpless. "Fine. Whatever makes you happy."

The two of them were immersed in the joy of victory, completely failing to notice Wu Xin's severed head blink.

"Congratulations."

A cold female voice sounded behind them, and Chen Xi's pupils contracted sharply.

Screech—

Accompanied by a piercing tearing sound, the Thread Dagger pierced straight through her abdomen.

Realizing what had happened, Chen Xi used the last of her strength to shove Lin Yue away.

"Chen Xi!!!"

Seeing the threads winding around her body, ready to tear her to pieces the next second, Lin Yue hurriedly transformed into a shadow and retreated.

The threads forced Lin Yue into a corner but did not continue their attack.

"Sorry. It hurts, doesn't it?"

A familiar voice sounded behind them as the headless corpse reappeared before the two girls.

Invisible threads extended from its back. At this moment, Wu Xin was completely a puppet being controlled by someone else.

"Oh dear, I forgot to put my head back on." She spoke the most horrifying words in the gentlest tone.

Picking up the head that had fallen to the ground, Wu Xin stitched the severed neck together with threads.

"After all, I was going to replace this body anyway, so I might as well use it to play with you two."

A few tears of amusement squeezed from the corners of Wu Xin's eyes as she burst into laughter. "You didn't really think you could win, did you?"

Chen Xi did not answer. Her vision was gradually blurring from blood loss.

So cold...

"Hey~ Little Xi, are you listening to me?"

Seeing no response, Wu Xin bent down to inspect her expression.

"Sigh, still that expressionless face. Just looking at it makes me want to throw up..."

She grabbed Chen Xi by the hair and lifted her head high, forcing Chen Xi to look at Lin Yue.

"Don't you have anything to say to your comrade?"

Blood continued to flow. Chen Xi could now only vaguely see Lin Yue standing there in a daze.

So tired...

Both her mana and strength had been exhausted. An indescribable fatigue gnawed at her consciousness, and the pain of death far surpassed Chen Xi's imagination.

No... I can't sleep yet.

To make sure something like this would never happen again, she had to stay awake.

The sickly sweet stench of blood filled her mouth. Chen Xi took a deep breath.

A CG could definitely be triggered by this scene. She had to improve its quality as much as possible.

Not only for herself, but for Lin Yue too.

What would someone say before they died?

[Didn't I tell you to run?]

No. That would be nothing but pointless blame.

It was fine to say that normally, but at a time like this, it would ruin the mood too much.

[I'm tired.]

That seemed like a pretty good choice.

Chen Xi's gaze shifted slightly.

But it sounded a little too selfish.

Wasn't Lin Yue tired too?

Suddenly thinking of something, Chen Xi raised her head, a faint smile spreading across her lips.

"Lin Yue." Her lips moved softly.

Lin Yue stood frozen in place, staring at her without blinking, as though she wanted to etch this moment into her memory forever.

"Live."