Su Yue's Shock! The Mysterious Man in the Slime Mask!

"What? Won't you come out?"

The woman in the Three of Spades mask gave a cold laugh and tapped her wooden staff against the ground. "My children, tear that car to pieces!"

"Awooo—"

The wolves howled together, then charged toward the Maybach carrying Su Yue.

"Miss, shall I contact your father?" the old butler asked quietly.

"No. I'll handle it." Su Yue shook her head and reached for the door.

Just then, a streak of red light plunged from the sky and struck the lead Gale Wolf dead on.

"What was that?"

Su Yue froze, staring at the dazzling red glow amid the rising dust.

A girl covered head to toe in red scales stood with one foot planted on the wolf's corpse. Hands on her hips, she held her head high while the tail behind her swayed freely through the air...

A tail?

Su Yue rubbed her eyes and looked again in disbelief.

What on earth was she?

Human?

Mechanical armor?

No—

The natural way that tail and those wings moved could not possibly be the work of machinery!

Was she... a Half-Dragon?

As Su Yue puzzled over it, she suddenly sensed someone watching her from the right.

She slowly turned her head—straight into the sight of a Slime Mask pressed against the car window!

"Eek—!"

Su Yue bit her lower lip and clutched the hem of her skirt, nearly crying out.

But she forced herself to hold it in to preserve her ladylike composure.

Inside, she was screaming: Who are you?!

You mysterious Slime Mask man!

"Su Yue?"

At the same time, Bai Xuan recognized Su Yue inside the Maybach.

He turned toward the woman in the Three of Spades mask.

"Is she with the same organization as that Three of Diamonds from before?" Bai Xuan muttered.

He knew little about the organization, but he was certain it was an evil force opposed to the Investigation Bureau.

These people were practically Anomalous Calamities—no,

they were Anomalous Calamities!

"Who are you?"

The Three of Spades eyed Bai Xuan suspiciously. "Are you one of those damned Investigators?"

"If I say no, will you tell me how you control those Gale Wolves?" Bai Xuan pointed to the wolves beside her and asked calmly.

"Hmph! Not a chance!"

The Three of Spades snorted, raised her wooden staff, and barked at the wolves beside her:

"Tear them apart!"

"Awooo—!"

Several Gale Wolves lunged at Bai Xuan and Marée Alaira.

Faced with the attack, Marée Alaira remained expressionless.

She raised her right hand. "You're too loud! Be destroyed!"

Before she finished speaking, crimson lightning danced across her palm.

Then she clenched her fist—

In an instant, several bolts of Red Lightning fell from the sky, reducing the Gale Wolves to charred dust.

"Wh-what kind of power is that?!"

The Three of Spades went pale.

She had never seen such terrifying power. It had wiped out F-rank Anomalies like the Gale Wolves in a single strike!

The remaining wolves recoiled in fear, unwilling to come any closer.

"Damn it... retreat!"

The Three of Spades leaped onto a Gale Wolf and fled without hesitation.

Marée Alaira turned excitedly to Bai Xuan.

"Human! Wasn't I amazing?"

"You were amazing, Little Marie."

Bai Xuan smiled, then added, "But we can't let them escape."

"Okay! Let's chase them!"

Marée Alaira spread her dragon wings and flew to Bai Xuan's side, holding out her hand.

"Human, give me your hand!"

"Mm."

Bai Xuan took it, and with Marée Alaira's help, rose into the air.

Su Yue immediately got out of the car and looked up at Bai Xuan and Marée Alaira as they flew away. A flicker of puzzlement crossed her Star Eyes.

She was certain she had met the man in the Slime Mask before.

After all, she could sense whenever anyone felt "affection" toward her.

"Drive! Follow them!"

"Damn it! Who the hell is that guy?!"

Riding a Gale Wolf, the Three of Spades fled all the way beneath Qiantang Bridge.

"That Red Lightning... what the hell was it? It killed a Gale Wolf stronger than F-rank in an instant..." Her voice shook with anger and lingering fear.

"What a monster!"

"But..."

The Three of Spades dismounted and looked beneath the bridge. A "cocoon" wrapped in green winds hovered there.

A delighted, twisted smile spread across her face. "Soon! It's almost time! I'm about to witness a miracle!"

"That woman's blood is incredible!"

"It actually awakened the Gale Wolves' ancient bloodline!"

"Too bad... there was so little of it."

"If I had more, all my children could evolve!"

While the Three of Spades stared intently at the Wind Cocoon, a voice suddenly came from above her.

"So this is where it is."

She looked up at once. Two figures descended from the sky and landed steadily before her.

"Who—who are you people?!"

The Three of Spades demanded an answer from Bai Xuan.

Bai Xuan ignored her. His gaze went straight past her to the "cocoon" formed of wind.

He could clearly feel the immense power within it. Fierce winds howled and churned around the cocoon, as though something inside was on the verge of transformation.

"Little Marie, destroy that Wind Cocoon first."

Bai Xuan gave the order.

"Okay, Human!"

Marée Alaira stepped forward and took a fighting stance.

Crimson Destruction Thunder rapidly gathered in her palm.

"Not a chance!"

The Three of Spades swung her staff, her voice thick with anger. "I won't let you hurt my child! Ancient Wolf Spirit, protect your bloodline! Kill them both!"

Before her words faded, a gale erupted!

Wind Blades formed out of thin air and slashed toward Bai Xuan and Marée Alaira.

"Human! Look out!"

Without hesitation, Marée Alaira darted in front of Bai Xuan and took every Wind Blade herself.

Only then did Bai Xuan notice a strange aura surrounding Marée.

The Wind Blades vanished the instant they touched it.

Like an... invisible barrier?

Having shielded Bai Xuan, Marée Alaira immediately struck back. "You dared attack him! You're finished!"

She brought her hands together in a stance resembling the opening move of a Kamehameha.

In an instant, a raging crimson ball of lightning formed between her palms, blazing with dazzling light.

"Be destroyed, insect!"

Marée Alaira thrust the lightning ball forward. Wreathed in destructive power, it hurtled straight toward the Three of Spades.

"Wh-what kind of power is this?!"

The Three of Spades went pale at the terrifying attack and stumbled backward in fear.

Before she could react, the raging crimson lightning swallowed her whole...