[Your friend "Suyo" is now online.]
[Invite to team up?]
Holy crap?!
What you think about comes true.
Can we still team up?
Qiji strongly suspected that the system had just been attacked by him and was now resentful and wanted to prove itself.
Not bad, not bad. Learning from shame motivates you to improve; it's a good system after all!
"Invitation!" Qiji immediately said.
The next instant, a startled cry of "Wow!" came from above—
A figure wearing the same fox mask as Qiji fell straight down from the sky.
A poetess fell from the sky...
Qiji was afraid of being hit.
He is currently in a "weak" state.
If someone manages to escape from so many Tier 5 Echoer, only to be crushed to death by Suyo in the end, that would be utterly ridiculous...
So, he instinctively steered the yacht to the side, getting quite a distance away.
'No, it seems like we don't need to hide that far away.'
'We should have picked her up by yacht; falling into the sea wouldn't be pleasant...'
By the time the thought arose, it was too late.
Qiji watched helplessly as Suyo crashed into the sea, splashing up a large spray of water.
'Um... I'll catch you next time, I promise.'
Qiji silently apologized in his heart before slowly steer the yacht closer.
"Brother? Brother, brother, brother! It really is you! I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to contact you after I came in!"
Qiji casually picked up the landing net from the yacht, intending to pull Suyo up.
However, the girl excitedly jumped out of the sea and rushed straight towards Qiji.
In his weakened state, Qiji was no match for Suyo in terms of strength and was instantly tackled to the deck of the yacht by the girl.
Suyo buried her face in his chest and rubbed against him like a kitten.
Ah, this...
Suyo's clingy and exaggerated manner left Qiji somewhat at a loss for what to do.
His Xiao Xi and he are truly two different styles of sisters...
After a full week apart, Suyo clung tightly to Qiji like an octopus. Only after she had finally replenished her "brother's energy" did she loosen her grip a little and lift her head.
"Brother, did you come all this way to pick me up?"
"Huh? Ah... I guess so..."
"Brother, you're so kind!"
"Haha, if I'm not good to my little sister, Xiao Xi, who else would I be good to?"
Qiji almost called her "Xiao Xi" again, after all, it was a habit formed over nine years.
Fortunately, he reacted quickly this time and changed his tune very fast.
Immersed in the joy of their reunion, Suyo discovered nothing.
As a result, the compatibility of the Thousand Faces Card skyrocketed once again!
"Brother, how did you know I would log into the Sea of Consciousness at this time?"
"I don't know."
"Then why did my brother... the moment I logged in?"
"Because I've been preparing all along—"
No matter when Little Shi logs in, I will be there for you immediately.
After finishing speaking, Qiji silently Xiao Xi for her guidance over the years, which enabled him to master the art of speaking.
Seeing the compatibility rating soar again, Qiji felt that the second stage of [Person in the Mirror] was Armament to him!
But... why do I suddenly feel like I'm some kind of smooth-talking scumbag?
Illusion!
This must be an illusion!
"Elder brother!!!"
Suyo was clearly pleased with this, a silly chuckle spreading across his face beneath the mask.
I felt like I wanted to melt into a puddle on the deck.
Looking at the fox mask on the girl's face, which was the same as his own, Qiji suddenly wanted to Suyo about how he had "tricked" her.
After hesitating for a moment, I decided to tell the truth.
I thought the compatibility would decrease somewhat, but—
[Thousand Faces] Card seems to have been successfully trained by him; even at times like this, the compatibility is actually increasing.
Is that correct?
"So, the Isolde Family thinks I did all of this? Me?"
Suyo stretched out her little hand and pointed to her nose.
Previously, Suyo had been wondering to himself which deity was so powerful that they could single-handedly confront the entire Isolde Family.
Upon suddenly hearing the answer from her brother, her admiration for him grew even stronger!
That's not surprising at all!
In the whole world, the only person who could be as amazing as my brother is!
"By the way, brother, after I die, can I become Guardian Spirit like you?"
Before Suyo had spoken, she thought she couldn't talk to her Guardian Spirit about their "death," but when she saw her brother openly discussing death without any hesitation, Suyo realized that she really didn't understand Guardian Spirit at all.
When Qiji heard Suyo say this, he was startled.
"Don't prepare to die so quickly! Things aren't that serious yet!!!"
Of course he wouldn't let Suyo die!
He caused this mess himself, he'll take responsibility for it!
Moreover, once Suyo returns to reality, she will become a super genius in everyone's eyes, possessing Myth Fragment.
Unless the higher-ups in City of Kindling are completely incompetent, they will definitely step in to protect her.
Furthermore, they will do their utmost to help her refine the Origin Mark and unlock the King's Lineage—
The City of Kindling awaits a new king, and has waited far too long.
To prevent any unforeseen events that might occur after Suyo leaves, and to ensure she can handle things on her own, Qiji also gave her some instructions:
"If you run into any trouble, go find that Qiji from Class 8."
"Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh?!"
Suddenly, when she heard the name she hated most come out of the mouth of her favorite brother, Suyo was stunned for a long time.
Then, she suddenly thought of something.
"Brother, how... how do you know him? Was what he said that day true? He and you..."
"That's right, a close friend."
When Qiji said those words on the rooftop, he never dreamed that one day he would be able to keep that lie...
"But brother, you saved me when we were little... I thought..."
"I became his best friend after I died."
"Ah???"
"In the Sea of Consciousness."
"Ah! So that's how it is! So that's how it is!"
In an instant, Suyo felt that all the mysteries that had been troubling her suddenly became clear.
So that's how it is!
That's not surprising, that's not surprising!
Everything makes sense now!
Why did Qiji say that he and his brother were best friends?
Why does Qiji know himself so well?
Why does Qiji wear a mask to imitate her older brother?
Why is Qiji so strong?
It turns out that all of this was because Qiji entered the Sea of Consciousness early on and was fortunate enough to meet her brother!
Given her brother's powerful personal charisma, it's only natural that Qiji would be genuinely impressed, admire, and even want to emulate him!
As for why Qiji is so strong?
She could Suyo even with her ass!
It must have been thanks to her older brother's guidance and help!
No, that's terrible!
Suddenly, Suyo thought of something and couldn't help but grin at the small mouth under the mask, revealing two extremely fierce little tiger teeth.
That bastard Qiji defeated me by using his brother's power!
No, I must win this time!
Thinking of this, Suyo immediately pestered Qiji:
"Brother, the Tide Grand Competition is almost here! Teach me how to defeat that guy!"
"Ah?"
Let me teach you how to defeat myself?
How could you even think of that?
Qiji wanted to persuade Suyo to give up, but then he thought again—
On the day of the Tide Grand Competition, his awakening ritual seemed to truly require a formidable opponent...
The stronger the better.
So he swallowed his words and began to seriously consider the feasibility of cultivating Suyo.
Having just finished one purple fragment, Qiji casually tossed it to the other person.
Suyo took a look and his eyes widened in surprise.
It's the Flame Lineage, the Flame Lineage she desires most!
Moreover, the attribute bonuses on the fragments are exactly what she needs right now: "Cost reduction"!
Overjoyed, she pounced on him again, clinging to Qiji and refusing to let go.
"Brother, did you find this especially for me? You must have searched for it for a very long time, right?"
Epic Fragment are rare to begin with, not to mention that the lineage and bonuses are perfectly matched.
In Suyo's little mind, she couldn't help but start imagining a second battle with Qiji:
With the added bonus from the Epic Fragment, I unleashed Multiple Fire Rain!