A tense and oppressive atmosphere hung in the air, as if it were a powder keg ready to explode.
The massive crack in the sky continued to widen, and the crimson light shimmered like a sharp sword, tearing apart the heavens.
Hiyakura, Jasmine, and Violet stood to one side, while Tao Yao faced them alone.
The air between both sides seemed to solidify, filled with a silent confrontation.
Zhu Jin sat far away in a tree, casually watching the scene, as if she had found a long-awaited amusement and was ready to enjoy the impending performance.
Hiyakura's eyes were filled with disbelief and pain.
Her voice trembled slightly, carrying a mix of hope and despair:
"How... how is this possible? Tao Yao, the words you once spoke to me, the ideals you mentioned… Could it be that all of this was a lie?"
As if sensing Hiyakura's emotions, Tao Yao's expression softened a little.
She gently shook her head, her voice infused with a hint of helplessness and apology:
"Of course, that was true. Hiyakura, there have always been very few friends I could talk to. As you know, as an apostle of the fairy, my identity means that I cannot easily connect with others."
"Because I considered you a true friend, I feel so guilty for deceiving you."
Hearing Tao Yao's response, Hiyakura's emotions began to escalate.
She stepped forward, her voice laced with anger:
"Then why are you still helping the organization? You should know better than anyone what will happen if such a crack opens; how many souls will be lost in the twin cities?"
At this moment, Hiyakura was no longer the girl who had just awakened in this world, knowing nothing.
During this time, she had encountered the history of this world and understood the essence of the "crack."
She knew very well the kind of troubles and disasters that the calamity beasts, dwelling deep within the crack, had brought upon humanity.
She had witnessed villages destroyed by the calamity beasts.
She had seen orphans crying in the ruins, having lost their loved ones.
She had also heard the tragic stories of refugees who had to abandon their homes due to the invasion of calamity beasts.
Once prosperous cities now lay in ruins, their former joyful streets turned into desolate silence.
The calamity beasts brought not just material losses, but also deep psychological scars.
Those who survived lived in fear and anxiety every day, not knowing when disaster might strike again.
Children lost their carefree childhood, while adults lost hope for the future.
Through her journey, Hiyakura had witnessed countless tragedies caused by calamity beasts.
This journey had deeply moved her, strengthening her resolve to protect this world.
She could not bear to see more people lose everything they cherished due to the calamity beasts.
It was precisely for this reason that she found it so hard to accept and believe.
Not long before, the Tao Yao who had always been gentle and kind to her, someone who spoke of a beautiful world and wanted to change it, was actually involved in this event.
Moreover, Tao Yao had even taken the initiative to assist the Black Rose of the apostle organization, obstructing them, protecting the devices that were destined to cause disaster…
Facing all of this, Hiyakura's heart was filled with contradiction and pain.
She could not deny the genuine feelings shared with Tao Yao, but also could not accept what Tao Yao was doing now.
She felt confused, angry, yet with a hint of hope, wishing that all of this was just a misunderstanding, hoping that Tao Yao could change her mind.
At that moment, Jasmine's voice interrupted Hiyakura's thoughts.
Her expression was stern, her tone urgent: "Hiyakura! Don't waste time talking to her; we don't have time! We need to find a way to destroy these devices quickly, or the consequences will be unimaginable!"
Jasmine's words jolted Hiyakura awake.
Yes, now was not the time to get entangled in personal feelings.
The crisis at hand was the most important; the lives of millions were hanging by a thread.
Regardless of Tao Yao's reasons, they had to stop this disaster from occurring.
Hiyakura took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she drew her heavy great sword.
The blade glinted with a cold light under the sun.
Her eyes were filled with pain and determination, clearly indicating that this decision was not easy for her.
At the same time, Violet and Jasmine quickly adopted a combat stance beside her.
Violet elegantly drew her katana, the blade tracing a graceful arc in the air before settling in front of her.
Her posture seemed relaxed but was actually ready to unleash a deadly strike at any moment.
Jasmine held a finely crafted pistol in each hand, the barrels slightly lifted, prepared to pull the trigger.
Her gaze was sharp, scanning the battlefield for the best shooting angles.
The three of them formed a perfect triangle, each playing their respective roles, ready to face the approaching battle.
A tense and heavy atmosphere filled the air, as if an intense conflict would erupt any second.
The three had been working together for a long time, each playing different important roles in the team, complementing each other's weaknesses in combat.
In the face of strong enemies, Hiyakura usually was the core of the main attack, her great sword capable of inflicting massive damage upon enemies.
Violet would keenly capture the opportunities Hiyakura created for her and, using her agile movements and sharp katana, would deliver quick and precise strikes.
Jasmine, as a long-range fire support, could not only suppress enemies but also provide timely cover when her teammates were in danger.
This kind of synergy allowed them to hardly encounter any opponents.
But the apostles were ultimately formidable foes they found difficult to counter.
Logically, opponents of the apostle level should be handled by the more powerful Laurel senpai.
However, the current emergency situation allowed no room for hesitation or waiting.
Even if the opponent was an apostle, they had to step forward and fight to prevent this disaster.
Just as the three of them prepared for battle.
Zhu Jin, who had been watching idly from the tree, finally moved.
She lazily stretched, then jumped down from the branch, landing lightly on the ground.
Her gaze swept over the few prepared to fight, finally resting on Tao Yao.
Zhu Jin wore a slightly excited smile and asked, "Lady Tao Yao, do you need my help?"
Her tone was tinged with eagerness.
Clearly, her brief confrontation with Hiyakura had left her wanting more.
However, facing Zhu Jin's inquiry, Tao Yao appeared exceptionally calm.
She gently shook her head and replied in a serene tone: "No need, I can handle it myself."
The reason Tao Yao refused Zhu Jin's assistance was rooted in her understanding that in such times, she had to take action personally.
Only by acting herself could she perfectly grasp the nuance.
After all, if Zhu Jin, the devoted Black Rose subordinate, participated too much, she worried that, during the ensuing battle, once Hiyakura entered her fairy form, Zhu Jin might fall victim due to lacking strength, leading to her tragic end.
After responding to Zhu Jin, Tao Yao's attention turned inward.
She quietly asked the system spirit Xiao Xiao in her heart:
"Xiao Xiao, do I have enough popularity points to exchange for a character card now?"
"Don't worry, Master, it's definitely more than enough!"
Xiao Xiao's voice echoed in Tao Yao's mind.
"The popularity points have surpassed 200,000, enough for you to exchange for a custom four-star character card!"
Upon hearing this good news, Tao Yao showed no hesitation and directly replied in her mind: "Exchange it."
However, Xiao Xiao seemed troubled, hesitating to say:
"Master, the character card's innate skills, ultimate moves, and corresponding attribute values all need you to customize them…"
Tao Yao thought for a moment, secretly responding: "Just quickly draft some basic values and skills for me, something along the lines of a shielding-type character who is survivable but also deals a reasonable amount of damage."
"But, Master, the character skills are very important! I think it's best if you handle it yourself…"
Feeling a bit annoyed, Tao Yao retorted:
"Are you an idiot? In this situation, is there any time for me to slowly think about the character attributes and skills? You're my system, can't you help me out a bit? What good are you otherwise? Besides, if worse comes to worst, I can optimize and modify it later!"
Faced with Tao Yao's rebuke, Xiao Xiao hesitated for a moment and then suddenly realized:
"Oh! That makes sense! Why didn't I think of that? Please wait a moment, Master, I'll exchange it right away!"
As Xiao Xiao's words fell, Tao Yao felt her body lighten significantly.
At the same time, the relevant information of the character card appeared in her mind.
Hmm…
The character information was quite complex.
The content was also rather lengthy.
Tao Yao didn't examine it closely at this moment.
She lifted her hand instinctively, channeling that power.
Soon, pink flower petals began to float down from the surroundings, forming a beautiful curtain in the air.
Hiyakura, Violet, and Jasmine became alert upon seeing this scene.
Hiyakura was the first to launch an attack. She raised her great sword and charged towards Tao Yao.
The blade sliced through the air, producing a piercing howl.
However, just as the edge of the sword was about to reach Tao Yao, a pink petal barrier suddenly appeared, blocking Hiyakura's strike.
Immediately, Violet seized the opportunity to launch a side attack.
Her katana struck like a bolt of lightning, aiming straight for Tao Yao's vitals.
But Tao Yao merely waved her hand gently.
More petals gathered into a longsword, perfectly blocking Violet's attack.
Jasmine took advantage of this opening and quickly opened fire.
However.
The moment the bullet left the barrel, it was absorbed by the suddenly appearing petals, transforming into nothingness.
Tao Yao, wielding the power from her character card, effortlessly countered the trio's joint attack.
Every movement she made was graceful and composed, as if she were dancing a splendid ballet.
The pink petals acted like soldiers obeying her command, sometimes forming shields for defense, and at other times condensing into blades to counterattack.
Hiyakura and the others quickly noticed that no matter how hard they tried, they could not break through Tao Yao's defenses.
In fact, even the shield formed from the petals surrounding Tao Yao was unbreakable.
Those seemingly soft petals were as hard as steel, easily blocking their assault.
Zhu Jin, standing aside, had originally been eager to witness an exciting battle.
Having heard about the apostles' strength, she was finally getting a chance to see it in person, unable to hide her excitement within.
However, as the battle progressed, her expression gradually shifted from anticipation to confusion.
At first, Zhu Jin thought that Tao Yao was deliberately going easy on them, intending to toy with her opponents.
But as time went on, she increasingly felt that something was amiss.
Her brows knitted together as her gaze swept across the battlefield, observing every detail closely.
Zhu Jin noticed that while the petals controlled by Tao Yao appeared soft, they were, in fact, exceptionally sharp.
On several occasions, the blades formed by the petals came mere inches from Hiyakura's throat; with a slight exertion, they could easily slit her neck.
Even if not lethal to an extraordinary person, it was enough to inflict serious injuries.
Yet, every time just before they reached a critical point, the petals would suddenly change direction, allowing Hiyakura to just narrowly escape.
Not only that, but Zhu Jin also discovered that when Violet attempted a side ambush, Tao Yao would always use the petals for defense right at the right moment, preventing Violet from being harmed while perfectly neutralizing the attack.
As for Jasmine's long-range shooting, Tao Yao handled it with ease, each time accurately using the petals to absorb the bullets without harming her opponent or allowing herself to be threatened.
These signs intensified Zhu Jin's suspicion regarding Tao Yao's true intentions.
In her mind, she pondered: "Is Lady Tao Yao going easy on them? But why would she do so?"
Zhu Jin carefully recalled every detail of the battle, increasingly feeling that something was off.
By rights, with Tao Yao's strength, she could easily end the fight in a few rounds.
Yet she deliberately chose this method of dragging it out, inflicting no harm but creating immense pressure on her opponents.
"This doesn't resemble a fight at all; it looks more like instruction!" Zhu Jin marveled in her heart, "Is Lady Tao Yao using this opportunity to hone their fighting skills?"
However, these thoughts of Zhu Jin were evidently invisible to Hiyakura and the others.
To them, facing Tao Yao at this moment brought only deep pressure and a sense of helplessness.
Hiyakura felt that with every swing of her sword, she was wielding a heavy iron block, with sweat continuously trickling down her forehead, blurring her vision.
Her breathing became rapid, as if she were on the verge of suffocation.
Violet's situation wasn't much better.
Her proud agility seemed clumsy in front of Tao Yao.
Every time she thought she had found a breakthrough, it was always blocked by those strange petals.
She felt as if she were battling nature itself; no matter how hard she tried, she could not move her opponent even a little.
Jasmine, on the other hand, felt even more desperate.
Her once-proud marksmanship became meaningless at this moment.
Every bullet seemed to have been thrown into a bottomless pit, creating not even the slightest ripple.
Her arms ached from maintaining the shooting posture for too long, and cold sweat continuously dripped down her forehead, soaking her collar.
All three felt an unprecedented sense of oppression.
Tao Yao's existence was like an enormous mountain that no matter how hard they tried, they could not budge.
This feeling of helplessness nearly overwhelmed them, making it hard to breathe.
Just when the three were on the verge of exhaustion, a thunderous dragon roar suddenly emerged from the crack.
This roar resonated like rolling thunder, instantly attracting everyone's attention.
Immediately afterward, a massive figure slowly emerged from the crack.
It was a gigantic Abyss Dragon, its scales shimmering with a dark glow under the sunlight, as if it could swallow all light. Its eyes burned like two flaming rubies, exuding a heart-stopping aura.
The Abyss Dragon descended slowly onto the battlefield, each step causing the ground to tremble.
When its wings spread, they blocked out the sun, casting a shadow over the entire world.
The dragon's breathing sounded like an ancient storm, making the air around feel heavy.
However, such a fearsome creature exhibited unusual docility as it approached Tao Yao.
It lowered its proud head and obediently lay before Tao Yao, akin to a large pet waiting for its owner to soothe it.
The dramatic contrast of this scene shocked everyone present.
Hiyakura, Violet, and Jasmine widened their eyes, looking at everything before them in disbelief.
With the emergence of the Abyss Dragon, the massive crack was completely opened.
Countless calamity beasts stirred, as if they would swarm out at any moment, bringing devastating disaster to the world.
Seeing this scene, Tao Yao withdrew the petals that had been restraining Hiyakura and the others.
She elegantly stepped onto the staircase formed by petals, lightly standing on the back of the Abyss Dragon.
Overlooking the fallen and sorrowful figures, Tao Yao's gaze ultimately rested on Hiyakura.
Her voice was soft but carried an undeniable strength:
"Don't be too sad, Hiyakura."
"Though the crack has opened, this doesn't mean it is all over."
"At least, before despair completely engulfs the twin cities, you still have the chance to save everything."
Tao Yao's words bore a hint of encouragement, "However, unlike last time, this time, it will likely require you to destroy the crack yourself."
"As long as you wield the power within you, everything will be solved."
"I believe you can master that power that originally belonged to you, the fairy power."
After saying these words, Tao Yao gently stepped on the neck of the Abyss Dragon.
The great dragon let out a resounding roar and soared high into the sky, quickly disappearing into the horizon.
Only a scene of devastation remained, leaving Hiyakura and the others filled with regret.
Of course, also left behind was the forgotten Zhu Jin.