"BOOM—!"
Above Misaki Bridge, a colossal deep blue flame clump, resembling a miniature sun with a diameter of hundreds of meters, abruptly exploded into a massive fire wave, creating an ear-splitting roar. This fire wave surged in all directions, hiding the sky and covering the earth.
The iron framework bridge named Misaki Bridge was instantly shaken by the oncoming blast wave, causing it to sway violently.
The river churned with waves akin to turbulent foam, wildly undulating.
The scarlet space seemed to tremble, filled with disrupted air currents.
"—!"
Shana, witnessing this scene, was suddenly astonished. Swiftly, she raised the black garment draped over her body, blocking the incoming blast wave.
"What...?!"
In the high altitude, Margery and Marchosias were even more shocked, their flame robe-clad faces filled with amazement.
In the midst of the erupting and terrifying fire wave, a figure, like a meteor, pierced through the flame barrier. Bathed in dazzling starlight, the figure ascended into the sky at an astonishing speed, resembling lightning.
In the blink of an eye, the figure appeared in front of Margery.
Ice blue Mystic Eyes were slightly raised, focusing on the wild beast-like body of Margery.
Crack-like Death Lines appeared around the body of the flame robe, covering the entire body beneath the Tōga.
In Fang Li's eyes, at this moment, the seemingly intact garment made purely of flames appeared like tattered cloth, barely hanging onto Margery's body.
Naturally, within the flame robe, Fang Li's Mystic Eyes imprinted each Death Line on Margery's body, visible and clear.
In this single moment, Margery felt it.
A sense of deadly crisis surged from the base of her spine, instantly rushing to her mind.
Clearly seeing those ice-blue eyes, Margery felt as if her entire body's temperature had been lost at this moment, becoming ice-cold.
(What is that?)
As icy as ice.
(What is that?)
Yet as vibrant as a rainbow.
(What is that?)
A ring of rainbow hues within the icy blue color.
(What is that?)
Eyes that seemed to witness the most frightening aspects of all existence.
(What is that?!)
Margery was completely immobilized.
Under the close gaze of those ice-blue Mystic Eyes, she felt as if she could see herself lying in a pool of blood, completely dead— a scene that left her utterly unable to move.
It was a fear stemming from instinct.
The instinct forged through battles against Crimson World Denizens for hundreds of years informed Margery that, facing this pair of eyes, everything about herself appeared extremely fragile.
So, Margery knew.
A single stroke would be all it took.
Just one stroke.
Next, Fang Li only needed to swing the blade once, and the one who was revered and feared among Flame Haze and Crimson World Denizens, known as a battle maniac and avenger— herself— would die completely.
Resistance was futile.
Because the recent all-out attack had depleted all of Margery's power. Currently, maintaining the Tōga flame robe is already an extremely strenuous task. In such a situation, how could Margery resist?
And furthermore, would resistance even be effective? Probably not, right? At least, Margery's intuition told her that, facing this pair of eyes, her only option for survival was to turn and run; there was no second way.
Those were eyes that could beckon death. All defenses were rendered worthless. Therefore, in Margery's stiff and immobile state, Fang Li, suspended in front of her, slowly raised the Moonlight Dagger in his hand, pointing the tip towards Tōga's head, just as Shana had done before.
In such a declaration, "I win," the space suddenly fell silent. Staring into the Mystic Eyes fixed upon her, Margery's hand trembled while gripping her weapon tighter.
Despite both being victorious declarations, the feeling that Margery experienced was entirely different. If Shana's declaration brought only frustration and humiliation, Fang Li's declaration brought about despair and fear.
Resisting the former might lead to defeat at most, but resisting the latter would undoubtedly result in death. Margery wasn't afraid of death, but under the gaze of those Mystic Eyes, she found herself genuinely scared.
Scared of death. It was an instinct every living being possessed, one that Margery had hidden away through years of relentless battles and deep-seated hatred. Those who claimed not to fear death simply forgot or gradually became accustomed to it.
However, these Mystic Eyes forcefully brought forth this long-buried fear, laying it bare for all to see. With this long-suppressed fear, Margery gritted her teeth and spoke in a low voice, "Who are you, exactly?"
Hearing this, Fang Li looked directly at Margery and replied, "I am just a freak who forgot what death truly feels like."
This sentence carried a mocking tone that corresponded to the fear unearthed in Margery's heart. However, this time, Margery couldn't laugh, nor could she summon anger. Even Marchosias seemed unable to find amusement at this moment, sinking into an indescribable silence.
Then, vibrating with a pair of flame wings resembling Red Lotus, Shana flew up from below and landed beside Fang Li. Looking at Margery, she spoke, "This kind of human is probably the only one in the whole world, and there won't be another in the future. Surrendering to him would not wound your pride."
Hearing Shana's words, Margery finally fell into silence.
"Boom..."
The flame robe named Tōga could no longer be sustained and was transformed into deep blue flames that burned out like extinguished embers. In the midst of it, Margery, standing on the suspended hardcover book in midair, gazed at Fang Li, who looked at her with a scornful expression and shouted loudly.
"I understand! I surrender, alright? Don't use that pair of eyes to look at me anymore!"
Only then did Fang Li smile slightly and lower the hand holding the dagger.
In his eyes, the Mystic Eyes with an ice-blue color and a ring of rainbow hues gradually dissipated.
The fear forcibly unearthed from Margery began to dissipate bit by bit. At this moment, Margery, wearing a displeased expression, spoke.
"Isn't it just finding an Unrestricted Spell hidden in this city? Completing such a trivial matter, and it will be alright, won't it?"
"Exactly," Fang Li said. "For now, we just need to locate it, and as for what comes afterward, we can discuss it later."
"Listen carefully, I will only help you find that Unrestricted Spell, and I won't care about anything else!" Margery asserted without reservation. "If you plan to threaten me in this way later on, even if I have to die, I will make you experience the same feeling!"
Fang Li chuckled abruptly, providing this response.
"If you can manage that, then perhaps I might even appreciate you."
...