Chapter 246

"As expected," Efnir's eyes narrowed slightly. If that was the case, many things would make sense. "Then I'll kill them all."

"Don't get too cocky, agent! You'll pay the price for everything you've said today!"

Another bright yellow signal flare rose in the distance. Efnir glanced at it, then suddenly curled her lips into a smile. "You won't live to see that day."

"Heh... we'll see if you can actually do it!"

Before the words were even finished, the two of them simultaneously charged towards the Boundary Stele.

A streak of azure light pierced through the buildings, Codename J, and crashed through the walls, heading straight for the city lights that were flashing.

The spear pierced through the dust and mist, and the crumbling wall crumbled instantly beneath Efnir's feet. She leaped across the Stairway and broken rocks, each step clearing away the rubble. In the next second, Efnir burst into the building, clashing with the charging Codename J. The spear swept out, slicing through the starry sky. Meteors and azure starlight flashed alternately throughout the night, and the scattered starlight transformed into fireflies. Efnir's spear was deeply embedded in Codename J's azure armor.

Efnir unleashed a devastating attack; the spear cracked Fracture, and the azure armor on Codename J's chest shattered inch by inch, collapsing along with her chest. A hurricane-like force tore the clothes on Codename J's back to Shard, and the violent shockwave shredded away all the smoke, dust, and flying bricks.

Shattered ribs pierced her skin, and grayish blood spilled from Codename J's mouth and nose. But an invisible force supported her body, and the spear attack did not knock her back in the slightest. Her eyes widened, and she screamed wildly, completely ignoring her injuries. Her bloodied hands swung out suddenly, and the Efnir spear, held at her waist, struck towards Codename J's neck.

A burst of azure and silver light erupted as the two plummeted from the sky. Their rapid exchange of blows immediately shattered the building. Efnir kicked out, using the force to escape the collapse zone, but Codename J suddenly caught up, grabbing Efnir's ankle and holding it tightly.

A radiant glow coursed across the entire body of Codename J, while a violent and dangerous energy explosion brewed in the air.

Efnir snorted coldly, flipped over and bent over, her body arching like a bow. She grabbed the arm of the Codename J, and in the instant the light rose, Stairway formed beneath Efnir's feet. The Codename J narrowed their eyes, and the next moment, a violent tremor erupted inside the building.

With a deafening roar, the building collapsed, and the fiery energy devoured the night sky.

Another loud bang, and an even stronger impact suddenly erupted from the bottom of the building. Visible ring-shaped shockwaves spread in all directions, and large areas of dents emptied the building's last foundation.

Dust billowed up again. Efnir pressed her head down with one hand, slamming Codename J's cheek against the ground. The silver light from the Stairway beneath her feet flashed repeatedly, cutting through the concrete like meteors, leaving jagged furrows. Codename J's roar pierced the air currents. Efnir's fingers were embedded in her left eye, and gray blood streamed down her face. No part of her body was unharmed. After Efnir shattered her armor, which was constructed of azure energy, the armor's repair speed could no longer keep up with the pace of the battle.

Efnir dragged Codename J across two streets, the Fracture and deep trenches left by the explosions pulling the battlefield into the old district. Finally, Codename J broke free from Efnir's grasp. The two attacked simultaneously, Codename J's fist deflecting Efnir's gun tip, sparking a shower of sparks. With a muffled thud, Codename J was sent flying several meters back by the immense force that pierced his body, finally stopping when he crashed into the ruins.

Efnir stood still, the spear disappearing from Codename J's chest and reappearing in her hand. The spear vanished, and Codename J collapsed to her knees, spitting out a mouthful of grayish blood.

"You... are very strong... but you're still a long way from killing me!"

Codename J glared at Efnir, a bright blue light rising and enveloping her. The wounds on her body were being filled with grayish flesh at a visible speed, making her look even more gruesome.

"..."

Efnir ignored her, but took a few steps back and looked up at the distance. The bright yellow flare had not yet fallen from the sky when a drone flew in from the direction from which the flare was emitted and landed next to Efnir.

A silver ring was placed beneath the drone.

Efnir planted the spear to the side, crouched down to remove the ring, and then faced the Codename J.

She met the gaze of Codename J, slowly putting on the ring. The next moment, a surge of air rolled up, whipping up Efnir's silver hair. The spear vanished in a flash of silver light, and the fragments of silver stars mingled with the moonlight. Her dress peeled away inch by inch, replaced by a snow-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress).

Codename J frowned. "This is... Apostle?"

Without using Stairway, Efnir lifted off the ground and slowly floated up. With a wave of her hand, long spears of light appeared in the night sky, their tips pointing towards the Codename J. The light filled the sky, swallowing up the stars and moon and illuminating the night sky as if it were daytime.

Efnir looked down at Codename J, "You just said I couldn't kill you? So what now?"

180. Lightning

The air was thick with persistent dust and acrid black fog, which was dispersed by the evening breeze and turbulent energy currents, while the scorching dust cut across the skin.

Codename J stared in astonishment at the sky filled with flames, a slight movement in his eyes.

The sharp flames obscured the stars and moon, illuminating the night as if it were daytime. However, when the spear was aimed at her, the sharp aura made her cheeks sting. Its overwhelming presence pressed her firmly to the ground, rendering her unable to move.

She gritted her teeth, "Those despicable Apostle..."

Efnir looked down at her from her high vantage point, her purple light burning like flames.

Energy was accumulating and compressing; the azure light in Codename J's hand floated and solidified, transforming into sturdy armor that enveloped her entire body.

Almost simultaneously, Codename J roared and leaped towards Efnir. Efnir pressed down with one hand, and countless spears poured down like a waterfall, completely engulfing Codename J's figure. The next moment, a beam of azure light flashed from the waterfall of flames. Codename J, covered in wounds, forced his way through and darted straight towards the back of the half-collapsed building.

The night sky was ablaze.

The torrential rain of spears instantly pierced through the already crumbling concrete building, turning the riddled ruins into ashes.

The ground shattered, and Codename J, riding a curtain of azure light, sped through the rain of spears, using the old buildings to shield Efnir's vision and block the spears' onslaught.

She headed towards the city, while countless spears formed a dense beam of light, chasing after the Codename J and colliding with Codename J's azure beam of light.

Energy exploded in the compression and collision, the streets were razed to the ground, and flames and flashes filled the night sky.

High above in the distance, Trilice stood on the rooftop, squinting as she gazed at the dazzling sea of stars adorned with azure and silver light.

"Lapith, that guy is coming."

As soon as she finished speaking, the enormous scythe fell into her hand, etching a silver gleam into the night sky.

Meanwhile, Lapith was staring intently at Efnir in the air, and slowly spoke, "Truly astonishing..."

"Alright, I understand..." Lapith sighed softly. "Funeral Bird Squad, prepare for battle!!"

With a loud shout, Lapith leaped off the high-rise building. At the same time, the light of Star Silver appeared, and strands of light followed her as she fell, gradually turning her hair silver-gray.

"Stay with the captain, maintain formation! Don't get close to Efnir, we'll stop Codename J right here!"

"Trilice shouted, leaping up after Lapith!"

The roar of the explosion grew closer, and the members of the Funeral Bird ran through the night. The streetlights on both sides of the street became sparse, and the prosperous street scene became desolate and deserted as they moved. They had entered the old district, and the tremors under their feet and the scorching wind blowing in their faces became clearer. The flames that filled the sky obscured the stars and moon and fell from the sky. The closer they got, the more they could feel the energy within.

A streak of silver light crashed down, and a violent energy storm destroyed the buildings directly in front of it. A figure Codename J burst out from the explosive wind pressure and appeared in front of everyone. The moment she saw Lapith and the others, her face turned ferocious.

"It's you guys..."

In a flash of light, Lapith's gauntlets rapidly magnified in her eyes. Codename J raised her arms to block. Her armor had already crumbled under Efnir's attack, and she managed to withstand Lapith's blow with her body.

A tremendous force pierced through her arm and instantly coursed through her entire body. She coughed up a mouthful of blood and foam, her body plummeting at several times the speed she had come from, crashing into the rubble. Codename J was horrified to discover that the strength of the agent before her was in no way inferior to that of Efnir, who had instilled in her a strong sense of crisis.

"You still remember us," Lapith chuckled. "So there's some way your 'stand-ins' pass on memories? Or are you just more vengeful?"

"Hmph, this mere imposter has some skill, though."

Codename J, pondered to himself, "Why does this small Xijing City have two such powerful agents?"

Lapith's fist came down again. Codename J flipped and slid to the side, slamming his hands into the ground. Two blinding beams of light rose from the ground and crossed with Lapith's fist.

A streak of silver light descended from the sky, and the spear fell toward Codename J. She flipped in mid-air and kicked the spear head-on. The terrifying recoil shattered her trouser leg inch by inch. She gritted her teeth and used the force to leap away from Lapith's pursuit. She immediately turned and leaped, rushing toward Lin's direction.

"Go to hell!!"

A surge of azure light rippled and rolled as Lin Lin leaped into the air, simultaneously unleashing a powerful swing of her two-handed greatsword amidst a howling wind.

Silver sparks burst open like fireworks, and the next moment Lin was sent flying backward, crashing straight through two walls before finally coming to a stop. Her greatsword left a long groove in the ground.

"Lin!"

"I'm alright! Don't let her pass by here!!" Lin shouted, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth as she raised her greatsword again and charged towards Codename J.

In order to deflect the attack from Codename J, Lin also sustained minor injuries in this clash.

But Codename J's first attempt to break through was thus blocked here.

"Get out of the way!!"

Codename J roared, clearly targeting those weaker than Lapith and Efnir as her point of attack.

However, Trilice's giant scythe arrived first, and with a thud, the sharp blade sliced through flesh. The blade of Trilice's scythe hooked tightly around the shoulder of Codename J, preventing her from advancing an inch. In that brief half-second, Lapith had already caught up with Codename J and suddenly attacked.

Two explosive sounds pierced the air, the azure light shattered and scattered, Codename J was thrown into the sky.

She was met with a barrage of spears. Without the ground or buildings to hold onto, Codename J could only rely on her energy and control of her center of gravity to evade the attacks. However, the dense onslaught immediately pierced through her body, the spears tearing at her muscles and dragging her a hundred meters. The next moment, a dazzling, aquamarine beam of light slanted across the night sky, instantly engulfing Codename J.

Atop a tower a kilometer away, Yukina Rin gazed into the distance, her crimson eyes reflecting the receding azure light. She drew back her bowstring once more, a water-colored arrow gathering between her fingers.

Puff--

The arrow tore through the gray flesh, blood mist exploded in the air, and the azure armor of Codename J was completely shattered into pieces.

The spear swung down again, its immense force crushing her arms.

The world spun around her, Codename J landed again. She lay on the ground, gasping for breath, every inch of her body groaning in pain.

This time, the surrounding scenery had changed—below her lay a Fracture, abandoned road, city lights flickered in the distance behind wisps of smoke, and all she could see was desolation. The familiar feeling in the air reminded her that she was in the Beyond the Boundary Region.

She failed to break through the encirclement and was instead forcibly taken away from the original battlefield.

In the Beyond the Boundary Region, compared to the city, the concentration of Corruption Energy has risen to a terrifying level. In other words, the power of the "Apostle" will be amplified to its extreme here— Efnir's figure reappeared in her sight, blinding purple arcs of electricity leaping around Efnir, and a powerful pressure materializing from energy.

"This is... a 'domain'!?"

Codename J roared hoarsely, struggling to his feet, his eyes wide, "How could you...?"

Efnir launched another surprise attack, her sweeping spear growing larger and larger in Codename J's eyes. At the last second, she leaped up to dodge, but two silver lights descended from the sky like shooting stars, magnified in her vision.

Arcs of electricity danced at the tip of the spear, making it a far more deadly threat than before.

Puff--

The two falling spears pierced through her shoulders in an instant.

The next moment, a huge crescent moon blocked her entire vision, splitting the sky in two. Before the surge of energy even got close, the scorching light had already burned her skin with a stinging pain.

As the crescent moon silently swept by, Efnir's silvery-white figure reappeared in sight. From the feet of Efnir's location, a silver ravine, only a finger's width wide, stretched straight out, extending dozens of meters behind Codename J.

Codename J lay on his back, staring blankly at his still-standing lower body, his gray skin withering and crumbling like a withered tree.

"I..."

Countless streaks of silver light flashed across the sky, and the dazzling meteor shower magnified in her eyes.

181. Post-war

The death of Codename J signaled the end of the battle.

Late at night, most of Xijing City's bustling streets had fallen into darkness, with only a few lights still twinkling like stars and the moon reflected in water.

After ending her battle with Codename J, Efnir returned to the front lines from the Beyond the Boundary Region, where Shinomiyami Nami and Fushihara Ayaka, who were waiting there, and handed over the Shard for safekeeping.

Nishizaki Yuki, with an unlit cigarette dangling from her lips, examined Efnir's arm closely before finally pulling out a lighter. "Thanks for your hard work, Efnir. Having used the 'Shard' and entered Apostle-Form Synchronization, are you experiencing any discomfort?"

"This is not my achievement alone."

Efnir shook her head and turned to look at the battlefield Beyond the Boundary through the dark night. The location where she and Codename J were fighting had now attracted a lot of Erosion Entity activity, and those Erosion Entity always wandered around following the energy reactions.

"The members of Funeral Bird, and Yukina, also contributed."

Although Efnir could have taken down Codename J on her own, having someone else block Codename J's escape route allowed Efnir to end the battle much faster.

When Efnir is at full power, she can't maintain her peak condition for long, so the interception and blocking by Lapith and the others also played a supporting role.

Efnir removed the ring from her finger and the earring from her left ear, handing them to Shinomiyami Nami. "I'm not sure if anything unexpected will happen to me later, so please keep these two items safe."

Shinomiyami Nami pouted, "Well, I do hope I don't have to return these things to you so soon."

Fushihara Ayaka stepped forward. "Although I sometimes think of scolding you like an elder, it seems like that would make me seem old, so I'll pass. Anyway, well done, Efnir."

The death of Codename J brought a long-awaited victory to Xijing City.

"The body of Codename J is now ours to recover; we will conduct a thorough study of it."

Nishizaki Yuki said.

Just like when it Maesakagawa area, the body of Codename J was nothing but a battered, mollusk-like shell.

"Hopefully we'll find something, but in my opinion, she's definitely not unscathed this time. By the way, our people have recorded the code she was looking for and have begun deciphering it. Of course, I'm not an expert in Ruin Script, so we've also sought help from the Central Province for this information. I should have the results soon."

Efnir nodded; this was the best possible outcome.

"By the way, where's Saori?"

"Saori is not in mortal danger, but her injuries are quite serious, and she has been sent to the headquarters hospital. As for Ayse, she was slightly affected, but it's not a big problem, and she should be fully recovered in about two days."

Nishizaki Yuki said, then paused, "By the way, Saori woke up once during the operation and told our doctor that she obtained very important information from Codename J. Unfortunately, she is still too badly injured to have a proper conversation. I think we might have to go and exchange some information with her after her surgery."

"It's good that she's alright. As for the intelligence..." Efnir pondered for a moment. She actually had many questions that needed to be sorted out again. "In short, let's wait for Saori to recover a bit."

Just then, a communication came through.

"Naoko, are you alright?"