Li's lips twitched. "Zeref, isn't it time you showed the strength you've been hiding?"
Bradman glanced down at Shaka, but instead of continuing his pursuit, he turned and flew toward the black-clad Layla within the white flames.
Zeref, standing atop the platform, slowly sighed. Then, a small hand lightly settled on Li's shoulder. Li froze—he had not even noticed someone approaching him. He spun around, and the first thing he saw was a pair of eyes as black as ink.
In truth, Li could not remember how long it had been since he had last seen black eyes. Yet these eyes were like an ancient well that had stood for a thousand years; nothing could stir the slightest ripple in them. They seemed as though they could swallow his entire being in an instant.
She appeared to be a graceful woman, with long, satin-like hair falling straight down her back. Li looked at her, unsure what to say. In fact, he had no idea who this woman was.
Yet for some reason, he sensed a familiar feeling from her. "Do you want me to take him out for you?"
The woman pointed at Zeref. Hearing her voice, Li's mouth fell open. "Layla? How is it you?" Yes, this woman's voice truly belonged to Layla. Even that inexplicable aura around her felt like Layla. Li looked at her, then suddenly let out a long breath. "Then I'll see just what Zeref is capable of."
Li had no idea what power Layla had relied on to transform from a skeleton into human form. This had probably reached the same level as the system, hadn't it?
Yet Li did not know why he felt utterly at ease with Layla, to the point of unconditional trust. It was no longer his heart making the