Misaki City, along the banks of the Mana River.
Beside the gently flowing river, Fang Li and Shana were in a standoff.
Gazing at Fang Li ahead, Shana slowly raised one hand and uttered a delicate shout.
"Fuuzetsu/Seal!"
A totemic Rubik's Cube formation flashed on Shana's raised hand. This was an Unrestricted Spell, a technique or spell used to construct Unrestricted Spells, similar to a magical formation.
Beneath the totemic Unrestricted Spell, the flames of the Red Lotus ignited all around, forming a barrier of shimmering heatwaves that enveloped their surroundings.
At this moment, the world turned red.
In this moment, causality was severed.
Time within the Fuuzetsu/Seal came to a halt, leaving only Fang Li and Shana still in a face-off.
Having completed these actions, Shana reached out her hand beneath the cloak-like black garment.
This black garment wasn't an ordinary item; it was a unique treasure for Flame Haze, called Yogasa, forged through a contract with Alastor. It could synchronize with the user's will, undergo arbitrary transformations within the user's perception, and have defensive and item-receiving capabilities.
Thus, when Shana's hand reached for Yogasa, the most sturdy Treasure Tool in this world, a greatsword named Nietono no Shana, materialized like a mirage and fell into Shana's grasp.
"Alright!"
Shana unsheathed Nietono no Shana and pointed it at Fang Li.
"Come at me!"
Hearing this, Fang Li surveyed the surroundings and somewhat helplessly said, "Since you've unfolded the Fuuzetsu/Seal, it means you don't just want a simple sparring match, but a battle where we unleash our full strength, right?"
"Exactly." A domineering smile appeared on Shana's charming face. "Let me see the extent of your power."
With these words, Shana tightened her grip on Nietono no Shana, causing the flames of the Red Lotus to intensively burn from the blade.
In other words, Shana was genuinely prepared to engage Fang Li in a serious battle.
(I will take this opportunity to give this annoying guy a good lesson!)
That was Shana's mindset.
After all, for some time now, Fang Li had been leading Shana around, and she was reaching her limit.
So, for Shana, this was the perfect chance to vent her frustration.
"Don't hold back; give it your all!"
With these words, Shana's waist-length, silky black hair suddenly took on the color of flames, and her eyes ignited like burning embers, radiating with the intense glow of fiery light.
This was the "Flame-Haired Burning-Eyed Assassin."
Fang Li could sense that while Shana didn't harbor hostility, she possessed an immensely strong fighting intent.
It was akin to an infuriated lioness; she wouldn't stop until she took a bite.
"Very well." Fang Li smirked. "I also want to see how many catties and taels the rumored 'Flame-Haired Burning-Eyed Assassin' truly possesses."
With these words, Fang Li's hand flickered, and a dagger resembling a crescent moon fell into his palm.
In the next moment, both of them, in their standoff, moved simultaneously.
"Boom!"
As if intending to shatter the ground beneath, flames erupted beneath Shana's feet, transforming her petite figure into a streak of fiery red light that shot violently toward Fang Li.
**BOOM————!**
As if attempting to disrupt the air itself, Fang Li forcefully kicked the ground, generating a gust of wind that propelled him forward like a bullet.
**Clang————!**
Accompanied by a crisp collision sound, the dagger and katana clashed heavily against each other, sending sparks flying.
Fang Li and Shana clashed in this manner, then abruptly, one retreated while the other leaped high into the air.
The one retreating was Fang Li.
Because Fang Li sensed that the Moonlight Dagger, colliding with Nietono no Shana, had instantly been baked into a fiery red color due to the high temperature.
This heat caused the handle of the Moonlight Dagger to turn red, making Fang Li's hand emit a sizzling sound and a burnt smell.
"The amazing flames..."
If he continued to confront Nietono no Shana for too long, even if the Moonlight Dagger didn't melt, Fang Li's hand would likely be scorched.
Therefore, Fang Li had to step back.
Shana, however, was a step behind Fang Li, taking action only after he had retreated.
Thus, watching Fang Li retreat, Shana leaped high into the air, raising Nietono no Shana.
The scorching flames once again ignited on the blade of Nietono no Shana.
"Burn everything for me!"
Instantly, Shana raised the flaming katana like a meteor falling from the sky, heavily swinging her Treasure Tool towards Fang Li as he retreated.
**BOOM————!**
The flames of the Red Lotus burst open, transforming into a rolling wave of fire that evaporated the air and shook in all directions.
Under the explosion sound, the ground crumbled crisply, and the nearby river water seemed to boil, emitting steam, turning the already red-toned space even more fiery.
The scene was akin to a missile landing on the banks of Misaki City, causing a powerful explosion that instantly covered an area of several meters in all directions.
Soon after, Shana, holding the flaming katana, pulled Yogasa while simultaneously shielding herself. She flew backward, falling to the ground.
**Hū————!**
The deep black garment, stirred by Shana's movements, billowed with the roaring wind, fluctuating like a flame. Alongside Flame-Haired, who similarly danced in the wind, Flame Haze appeared as a valiant female knight on the battlefield, exuding a heroic aura.
Facing Shana in this manner, Alastor didn't hold back in reprimanding her.
"To directly detonate the flames like that, you're being too reckless!"
This was no joke.
Shana hadn't fully mastered Alastor's power yet; she couldn't autonomously control the flames and could only use them in battle by manipulating Nietono no Shana. It was evident that Shana had very little control over the flames.
In such a situation, she had directly relinquished control over the flames, allowing them to self-destruct. Careless as it was, there was a risk of being burned, and Fang Li had to retreat.
However, Shana acted without the slightest hesitation.
"If it's just this level, it won't cause any trouble for me." Shana affirmed with certainty, saying, "Of course, it won't cause any trouble for that guy either."
Just as Shana finished speaking, the situation ahead suddenly changed.
**BOOM————!**
Suddenly, a powerful shockwave erupted, dispersing the exploding flames.
From within, a figure suddenly shot out like a flash, rushing violently towards Shana.
"As expected!"
Shana's Burning-Eyed slightly tightened, quickly raising Nietono no Shana in her hands.
**Clang————!**
In the next instant, a heavy kick landed on the katana's blade, generating a powerful force.
...