There were no surveillance cameras in the dark alley. Rainwater poured into the drains, making strange gurgling noises.
Su Bai pushed his dripping bangs back, a dim purple-gold glow rising in his eyes.
"Two Blood Curse Species detected. Magic Power Scale: nineteen hundred, approaching the Citybreaker threshold." His bonded spirit, Kabi, piped up in his mind.
"Two intact Abyssal Cores would fetch at least a hundred thousand Federal Coins on the black market. Recommendation: send them to the afterlife by physical means."
"You've certainly done the math."
Su Bai silently recited the incantation. Purple-gold radiance spread from his chest, instantly covering his entire body.
A deep crater had already been smashed into the asphalt outside the convenience store.
Rainwater churned with mud. Two enormous creatures panted heavily, their scarlet eyes fixed on the two girls before them.
The golden shield Starshine had raised was covered in fine white marks, spreading and intersecting like a spiderweb.
Xia Ning swung her mint staff, conjuring layer after layer of white frost in an attempt to freeze the Monsters' joints.
But those pallid bone spurs were scorching hot. The instant the cold touched them, it turned into scalding white mist and dispersed.
"Xiaoxiao, I can't hold on much longer!"
Bloody foam seeped from the corner of Xia Ning's mouth, and her aching wrists had gone numb.
"Even if you can't, you have to!"
Starshine gritted her teeth and poured all her magic power into the shield. "My brother's still behind us. We can't retreat!"
Crack!
One of the Blood Curse Species raised its enormous, bone-armored palm and slammed it into the center of the shield.
Fragments of light scattered everywhere. Cracks raced across the shield's surface, threatening to shatter it completely.
A foul, bloody gust surged through the gaps. The Monster's enormous claw