The Creatures that We Are

Clink, clink—

The blade aura struck the boomerang, sending it veering left. A flash of white light erupted from the weapon—Harvest Song emerging with Mirror Man, her Black Gold triangular blade streaking toward Qing Ling's throat.

Qing Ling's reflexes proved faster. She arched backward, Tang Dao spinning to deflect the strike.

Unable to hover like Qing Ling's Metal allowed her to, Harvest Song began to fall. But an idea hit her; she shot a dart at Qing Ling's forehead from her sleeve.

Clink. Another parry sent the dart skyward.

Harvest Song materialized from the deflected dart, triangular blade plunging toward Qing Ling's crown.

Qing Ling's fingers splayed, then clenched. The Butterfly Twin Blades appeared in her grip—better suited for close combat.

Their clash became a deadly dance of falling stars. Harvest Song targeted vital points with surgical precision while Qing Ling's blade technique turned each strike aside. They plummeted toward the bridge, weapons flashing.

Frustration built in Qing Ling's chest. Though Harvest Song couldn't penetrate her defense, the combination of Master of Hidden Weapons and Mirror Man proved maddeningly elusive. A prolonged battle would only disadvantage her.

She could end it with Electricity—but that was her hidden ace. None in the Ocean River Union knew of this Talent. Those who had witnessed it were dead, and Sir Jiang had been too focused on Gao Yang to notice during their encounter.

Before she could resolve her dilemma, aid arrived.

Wind threw the two women apart. As Harvest Song readied more hidden weapons, a dozen air blades roared at her.

She twisted, parrying frantically, but one blade opened a gash across her waist. More air blades followed as she fell. She scowled, allowing her body to go into free fall, yet more air blades were coming her way. Left with no choice, Harvest Song retreated into her triangular blade, escaping the aerial onslaught.

Now that she had shaken off Harvest Song, Qing Ling concentrated and manipulated a Black Gold dart around the giant portal, shooting it at Qilin’s temple from the side.

The dart froze a meter from its target.

Through her weapon connection, Qing Ling sensed the invisible force—Flower's Telekinesis. The golden-haired, lion-like man stood bare-chested, black iris flower tattoos stark against his muscled frame. Though his telekinetic power was novice-level compared to Tong, the shadowstalker, his control grew exponentially with proximity. Near Qilin, no projectile could breach his defense.

Qing Ling's surprise passed quickly. She hadn't expected killing Qilin to be easy.

Air bullets and energy bullets were shooting her way, but without Shooter Domain's enhancement, they posed little threat. She wove through them, advancing while her dart wrestled with Flower's telekinetic grip.

When she drew close enough, purple light sparked in her eyes. Her finger curled, triggering the lightning elements hidden within the Black Gold dart.

"Lightning in the dart!" Surnamed Li warned with a darkened expression.

Pzzt.

Purple lightning exploded from the dart as it continued to struggle against the hold of Telekinesis, streaking toward Qilin's temple like a violet bullet.

At Surnamed Li's warning, Qilin snapped partial attention back to his body, jerking his head away from the purple lightning bolt with barely a breath to spare.

"Hah!" Flower channeled all his telekinetic force into the Black Gold dart, launching it away.

Frustration darkened Qing Ling's eyes. Without Surnamed Li's interference, she would have at least wounded Qilin, if not killed him.

[Nine Frost: You're in Qilin's kill zone! Retreat now!]

Nine Frost's telepathic warning stabbed through her thoughts.

[Qing Ling: I know.]

She wheeled her steel beam around, but something was wrong.

Why are you here, sister? Her sister’s voice rose in her mind.

Go back!

You should be protecting Gao Yang! He's alone!

Stop interfering! What if he dies?

Gao Yang can handle himself!

But what if he can't? If anything happens to him, I'll never forgive you! I HATE YOU! Take me to Gao Yang! NOW!

"GO BACK!" Qing Ling's weapons clattered away as she clutched her head, nearly losing control of the metal beam beneath her feet. She staggered in mid-air, unaware of the half-torn yellow talisman clinging to her calf—the one piece of Lin Fu's assault that had slipped through. ṟáℕöᛒÈṣ

Lin Fu's second Talent, Personality Kill, had worked perfectly. Rather than paralyze, his modified talisman had spent thirty seconds preparing for this moment—triggering a war between Qing Ling's dual personalities. For someone already housing two minds, the effect was devastating.

"Wandering Tune!"

Colorless recognized their chance—vengeance for Musashi was within their reach.

Understanding flashed between them. Though his energy was depleted, Wandering Tune could still manage one tiny portal.

Two seconds later, a portal the size of a compact mirror materialized before Colorless's right eye. Its twin opened directly in front of the struggling Qing Ling.

That was all Colorless needed.

Petrify!

Her right pupil trembled, blooming a furious red. Raw psychic power lanced through the micro-portal, striking at Qing Ling's fractured psyche.

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