The Nameless Squad’s combat prowess was unexpectedly formidable. The Flame Lion was already a powerhouse on its own, but the two members bombarding the enemy kept pulling out increasingly absurd weaponry—from RPGs to portable missiles, and even miniaturized tactical nukes (harmless variant). Under the relentless assault of the Flame Lion and heavy artillery, the Abyssal Fang Leader’s charge was slowed. Though it had grown terrifyingly powerful due to the spiritual resurgence, it was still flesh and blood.
Xueji now radiated darkness so dense it was almost tangible, her crimson eyes completely unrestrained, like a demon from hell. The shadow of her scythe, Reaper, stretched across the ground, growing endlessly—a blade less than two meters long now cast a shadow nearly fifty meters. As Reaper in her hands turned translucent, the shadow scythe expanded relentlessly, its edge now large enough to cleave the Abyssal Fang Leader in two.
The monochrome gray space enveloping the battlefield began to dissipate, allowing sunlight to pour back in—yet it failed to reclaim dominance from the darkness. The shadows under the sun only grew more eerie.
“Darkness even light can’t dispel… How fascinating.”
“Shame, really. A talent like this got snatched up by someone else.”
“Huh? Captain, you know something? Spill it!”
“That new Explorer organization, you know the one. Wait—since when was there this much fog?!”
“Fog… Don’t tell me it’s the same one from the southern region—”
Before they could finish, several massive, blade-like feathers shot toward them from above. Forced to dodge, they had to halt their attacks. The Flame Lion slowed, and the pile of ordnance they’d been unloading detonated right where they stood. If not for the two Nameless members yanking their comrades back by the tails, casualties would have been inevitable.
“Damn beast!” The captain, worried about Xueji—now seemingly defenseless—tried rushing to her position, only to find her and Solaka encircled by a dozen sword-like feathers. The woman named Chiyuan, who had been protecting her earlier, was nowhere to be seen.
Above the churning fog, two figures, each nearly ten meters tall, loomed ominously. The squad members exchanged grim glances. They were already pushing their limits against just the Abyssal Fang Leader—adding two aerial units to the mix meant their chances of victory were slim to none.
An eerie silence fell over the battlefield. Even the Abyssal Fang Leader hesitated, unsure whether the entities above were friend or foe.
In that brief stillness, Xueji felt the air around her solidify. Her heartbeat pounded in her chest, each breath loud in the suffocating quiet. The pressure radiating from Reaper was immense, as if compressing the very space around her.
She looked up at the Abyssal Fang Leader’s massive form. The once-ferocious eyes now brimmed with terror—not just of death, but of helplessness before overwhelming power. A complex mix of emotions surged within her: the thrill of imminent victory, the relief of an ending battle, but most of all, an indescribable weight.
She took a step forward. The Abyssal Fang Leader shrank back, trembling. In that moment, she felt its fear—raw and primal.
Gripping Reaper, she slowly raised it behind her, every movement deliberate. The feather blades rained down again, but she ignored them, her focus absolute.
With a single motion, she swung.
The scythe in her hand vanished, and the Abyssal Fang Leader froze, as if pinned in place. Then, the colossal shadow scythe followed suit, sweeping upward in a smooth, unhurried arc—bisecting the beast diagonally.
A horrific shriek tore through the air, a cacophony of voices—Abyssal Fangs, southern direwolves, humans…
As the shadows invaded its twisted body, Xueji saw the true form of its soul: a grotesque, fused mass of countless spirits, a chimera of suffering. Even she couldn’t suppress a wave of revulsion.
“Disgusting.” She withdrew Reaper, letting the shadows feast freely. The darkness consumed differently each time—sipping blood against Chen Shijie, devouring the eyeballs underground, now attempting to digest even the soul before her.
Frankly, she wasn’t fond of this ability. The personality shift was bad enough, but this devouring trait? Not exactly hero material.
As if sensing her thoughts, the shadows twitched violently in her grip—jerking her hand sideways to punch Solaka square in the arm.
Solaka, baffled by the sudden assault, turned with a glare—only to wilt under Xueji’s unnerving, sinister grin. Her resentful pouting made Xueji squirm.
As the shadows receded, exhaustion washed over her. Avoiding Solaka’s gaze, she surveyed the ruins of her school. The campus was devastated—shattered buildings, uprooted trees, rubble-strewn pathways. Two dormitories had been cleaved apart by her strike, exposing broken beds and scattered books. The entire school now resembled a warzone.
Corpses of Abyssal Fangs, crows, and bats littered the ground. Nearby, the wreckage of a classroom—their classroom, Class 5—sat in disarray. Aside from shattered windows and chaotic interiors, the structure itself was surprisingly intact. At least the construction quality held up.
Unable to bear the sight, she looked skyward. Two figures clashed amidst rolling clouds—until one let out a final cry and vanished. A crimson figure pierced through the mist, allowing sunlight to reclaim the earth. Hovering above, she seemed to scrutinize those below.
Only Xueji knew the truth: She’s just showing off. With an imperceptible nod, the red figure soared southward.
Chen Shijie had witnessed the entire battle. He couldn’t help but marvel at Xueji’s overwhelming, versatile abilities—as if tailor-made for combat. Yet doubt nagged at him. The scythe’s behavior didn’t seem like a product of her power alone. At least during their fight, her shadows had never exhibited such transformative potential.
“You’re hiding unimaginable secrets, aren’t you?”
His earlier inquiry had received a response—exactly as he’d expected.
“Go. Find where you truly belong. Let’s see how far you’ll grow.” Closing the message, he stepped out of the command vehicle, exhaling in quiet awe.