Chapter 22: Strings of Time, Sounds of Void

Waking up once more, Hexia saw a familiar scene: it was the bedroom in the home she lived in before she was twelve, not the one she lived in today.

The personal terminal on her bedside table chimed. She picked it up, silenced the alarm, and checked the date: [Third Era, September 2, 1248, 7:30:14 AM].

Was this four years ago? She sat up, looking at the quilt and bed she had used, and the cute-styled stickers on the walls, feeling a wave of nostalgia.

Stepping onto the clean floor, she walked out. In the living room, her father was preparing to head to work, while her mother was making breakfast for her and her older sister.

"Hexia is up so early today," her father said, raising his eyebrows in an attempt to make his daughter smile. It didn't work, so he waved goodbye and headed out the door.

Her mother placed a glass of heated milk on the table and sliced some freshly baked bread onto a plate. "Hexia, go call your sister. Didn't she say she was returning to school today?"

"Ah, yes..." Hexia nodded, but her feet didn't move; she kept staring at the serene, gentle woman before her.

"What's wrong? You've been staring at Mommy."

"It's nothing. I'll go call my sister." Hexia trotted away, but stopped abruptly when she passed the bathroom and went inside.

"It really is a dream," she thought, a sense of melancholy washing over her as she looked at her sixteen-year-old self in the mirror. There was no way she could have looked sixteen back then, and her family hadn't noticed anything strange.

She left the bathroom and knocked on her sister's door. Amidst her anticipation and nervousness, she finally heard that familiar, inimitable voice: "Come in."

The girl with black hair and violet eyes was already up. She sat by the window, watching the scenery outside where a few wisps of clouds drifted across the sky. A small potted plant sat on the windowsill, its tiny leaves swaying in the breeze.

"Hexia is here." She turned to look at the girl entering the room. Their appearances were strikingly similar, though the black-haired, violet-eyed girl was more developed—after all, she was already eighteen. "Hexia, you've grown up to be quite beautiful."

Upon hearing this, the younger girl froze.

"Sister?"

"Yes, I'm here."

"How old am I to you?" Hexia asked tentatively.

"About sixteen or seventeen? About the same age as I was then. Why?" Themisia tilted her head, black locks sliding from her shoulders.

"But, Sister, you're six years older than me..." Hexia’s voice lowered.

"That's true, but my age will forever stop at eighteen. You should know that by now," the girl across from her said calmly, brushing the hair from her ear.

"Why, Sister?"

"Why? That’s hard to explain..." Themisia stood up, walked over to Hexia, and took her hand. "Has Hexia studied ancient history? The events of the Third Era?"

"I know the gist of it." They sat on the bed together, shoulder to shoulder, back to back.

"During the Third Era, there was a human kingdom whose prince married the Forest Elf Queen, Titania, allowing the Forest Elves to be annexed into his kingdom, making it powerful."

"That's the legend of the Verdant Empire, right?" Hexia recalled.

"Yes, but that is merely the surface of history. As a witness to the marriage, a witch bestowed upon the royal family a treasure as a blessing and protection: a holy grail that, when its liquid was consumed, would ensure the birth of twins."

"Using this treasure, every emperor of the Verdant Empire was a twin. They shared one heart and mind, trusted each other completely, like inseparable halves. Such twins would remind each other, compensate for each other's flaws, and rely on one another, stitching two flawed fragments into a perfect, flawless circle."

"Sister..."

"In truth, we were meant to be such twins..." Themisia’s voice was full of emotion. "But fate played a joke, and as a result, we couldn't be pieced together."

"But don't worry, Hexia. I have found a solution."

"What solution?" Hexia felt a faint unease, as she already knew what was about to happen.

"The solution is—we will become one again." Themisia turned, gently hugging Hexia from behind, and clasped their hands together.

A strange sensation rose in Hexia’s heart. She could feel the heartbeat, the blood flow, the emotions, and even the faint, budding thoughts of the person beside her.

*(Hexia is truly cute.)*

The girl turned her head in disbelief, wanting to see Themisia’s face at that moment. Her long black hair drifted, and stardust swirled within her deep violet eyes, radiating a mystical, captivating charm.

"What do you mean by becoming one?" Hexia looked away, unable to meet those eyes.

"It means we compensate for each other's flaws. You want to be stronger, don't you? Sister can make you strong, helping you overcome your timidity and introversion," Themisia said, her voice gentle as she held Hexia's hand.

"Is that so..."

"Because we were separated, we were both imperfect. Becoming one again is the best path. And with my help, Hexia, you can grow rapidly. I was the top student in the entire school, and it was the number one school in the Emerald Skirt district."

"Yes..." Hexia lowered her head. It was true; compared to her sister, she was far too weak.

"It's okay. We won't be lonely anymore." Themisia leaned over and embraced her. She pressed her forehead against Hexia’s, and countless memories flooded over—Themisia’s entire life: her growth, the praise of being a genius, the envy of others, her mastery of high-level transcendence, her experience in navigating social schemes, her calm and rational mind, and more.

If she accepted all of this, Hexia could become powerful quickly. Moreover, their hearts were linked; she knew her sister had no ill intent and that this was for her own good.

Yet, for some reason, Hexia felt a faint resistance in the depths of her soul... Even though this was the best outcome, a corner of her heart ached. It should have been a moment of joy, being reunited with her sister, never to be lonely again.

Why... why... why... why!

Hexia pushed Themisia away, retreating a few steps under her confused gaze.

"Hexia?"

"Sister," Hexia raised her head stubbornly. "Actually, there are some things I never told you."

"What is it? Is it because I didn't pay enough attention to you in the past and neglected you?"

"Uh, that's not it." Hexia shook her head. "Sister is amazing and excellent. Even after you went to high school, Mom and Dad talked about you the most." Hexia looked at the floor. "I couldn't compare to you. I was always timid and clumsy. Every time relatives visited, I liked to hide."

"I used to envy your personality and hated my own weakness. When I entered middle school, the teachers asked us to choose a transcendence sequence to practice, preferably specializing in one."

"During the test, my most suitable direction was the Natural Sequence, just like you. Mom wanted me to choose it too."

"But I lied. I didn't choose the Natural Sequence; I chose the obscure Wither Sequence. Do you know why, Sister?"

"I was terrified of being compared to you. I was afraid people would ask how my training was going, and they would surely say, 'Look at what Themisia did when she was in middle school.'"

"I'm a coward—insecure and weak—so I could only escape such things. I chose the Wither Sequence because so few people picked it. That way, if someone asked, I could say that because the sequences were different, the difficulty and methods were different, so I couldn't be as fast as you were back then."

"Does that sound ridiculous? Maintaining my dignity over something so trivial. But you wouldn't understand, Sister. This is the only way I have to maintain my sense of self."

"I don't want to be compared to others anymore..." Her voice cracked. "After you left, Mom soon passed away from grief, and later, Dad left too."

"I lived in the house alone, often having nightmares. Sometimes I could only sleep with the lights on because I was afraid of the dark and afraid of seeing strange things."

"To resist that fear, I went to the library and found the obscure transcendence profession, 'Darkness Visitor.' It has almost no combat ability, doesn't help me find a good job, and doesn't let me enter competitions."

"However, it has one use: it allows the practitioner to gain 'Ghost Sight,' the ability to see departed spirits, lingering fragments of consciousness, and so on."

"Things I can't see are always scary, but when I can see them, I feel secure. Only then could I sleep in peace."

"So, Sister," Hexia looked up, "I have tried my absolute best to avoid you. Now you suddenly tell me we should become one again. I can't do it."

"But we can only become stronger by compensating for each other. You are dying now, aren't you? Without my help, you might..." Themisia looked at her disobedient sister.

"I know," Hexia bit her lip. "I know I could become strong by taking everything that is yours, but would that still be me? People are different. I couldn't learn your pride and confidence back then, and I don't want to learn them now."

"Let me be a coward for the rest of my life, always known as the lonely, introverted child. I know these are my flaws, but I’ve grown accustomed to their existence."

"How did you become so stubborn? Stop reading those psychological analysis books. I studied them too, but thinking too much about such things only makes one hesitant. Life should be lived with grace and ease." Themisia reached out again.

"No, no, no." Hexia shook her head, backing away. "We are different, Themisia." She used her sister's name for the first time. "You can be born understanding many things and naturally adapt to life's challenges, but I am not. I am a stupid child, afraid of being hurt, and I have to be cautious in everything I try. I can only arm myself with books and knowledge. I seek the wisdom of those who came before me, constantly analyzing the reasons why. Only when I know the principles and processes can I feel at ease."

"But living like that is too exhausting and painful," Themisia looked at her with pity.

"Perhaps. When I sit at my desk writing my diary alone, I feel a faint joy. Because I record the day's gains, feelings, and experiences. I try to find solutions to problems. These little things nourish me."

"I'm sorry, Sister. I cannot accept your request." Finally, Hexia's voice became firm.

"It seems you have made up your mind." Themisia looked at her. "What an disobedient sister."

"I'm sorry." Hexia pushed open the door and walked out.

Watching her leave, Themisia’s expression shifted, becoming incredibly complex. "Regardless of what you think, I have my own will, Hexia. It is destined that only one of us can master the talent of a Color-grade Diva."

"If you must refuse, I can only use my authority as your sister to teach you."

The quiet living room and house began to warp. Hexia looked around in astonishment, quickly realizing what was happening. She turned to face Themisia, who was approaching step by step, her transcendence abilities already activated.

Her long hair danced, stardust swirled in her violet eyes, and as she raised her hand, vines burst through the walls like a thousand snakes, binding Hexia tightly, leaving her unable to move. Themisia walked close, held Hexia’s forehead, and kissed her. Countless memories and emotions surged forth, their souls began to hum, emitting a dazzling light.

Like two flawless blue-violet crystals rising in an endless darkness, they slowly melted and intertwined.

*No! I refuse!*

A beam of light rose in the darkness, and the crystals shattered.

---

In reality, Jolong was diving through the stagnant water of the elevator shaft, trying his best to find the girl’s silhouette in the murky, deep water.

*'Damn, how long has it been since the bottom of this shaft was cleaned? There’s over twenty meters of water here; we're almost below the 70th floor.'*

While it was a pity not to teach that girl a lesson, if she died here because of his mistake, it would be a greater source of guilt and a mental blockage.

*'I'm actually saving someone? No one would believe this if I told them.'*

Regardless of his thoughts, Jolong continued to dive. Finally, he saw the unconscious girl at the bottom, her face pale under the dim light.

*'She can still be saved.'* Jolong swam toward her.

However, just as he was about to touch her, a violent light erupted from her body, and the entire underground elevator shaft was illuminated by countless sparkling crystals.

These crystal fragments, carrying a massive spray of water, expanded and scattered upward toward the top of the shaft, the water droplets condensing and clinging to the inner walls.

When the blinding flash faded, the interior of the shaft had become a glistening crystal cavern. Countless blue and violet hexagonal crystal clusters sprouted from the walls, steel frames, and railings. These crystals, shining with magical brilliance, lit up the underground, creating a fantastical, magnificent crystal world.

High above, surrounded by numerous crystal clusters, two figures—one violet and one blue—stood in the air. They looked identical, with long black hair dancing, differing only in the color of their eyes.

"Themisia..." the blue-eyed girl looked at the figure before her.

"I had no choice, Hexia. You shouldn't have been so disobedient."

After speaking, she extended her right hand. Innumerable magical light points converged, and a violet-red crystal sword materialized, which she then gripped.

...

As Jolong climbed up along the blue-violet crystal clusters, a golden streak of light flashed. He couldn't help but look up, only to see the violet-haired girl run the blue-haired girl through with her sword.

The violet-red blade pierced her chest, and blood-red patterns spread from the wound like a curse, immobilizing Hexia before she plummeted from the air.

Jolong watched the falling figure and leaped out to catch her, but the girl in the air waved her hand again. Three violet crystals shot down from above, piercing Jolong’s shoulder and wrist, pinning him to the wall.

"Don't touch my sister with your filthy hands. It’s disgusting."

Falling from the heights, Hexia landed in the crystal world below. She lay in the center, where countless crystal clusters extended outward from beneath her, like spikes and swords, guarding her.

In the sky, Themisia moved again. Crystal-like, prism-shaped wings spread from her back, transparent and tinged with violet, exceptionally beautiful. She then dove like a meteor, leaving a trailing purple streak in the air.

On the ground, Hexia opened her eyes again. She struggled to raise her hand, aiming at the plunging Themisia. Light swirled in her eyes, and the crystal clusters beside her made a clicking sound of cracking ice, bursting from the ground like bamboo, rising segment by segment to pierce the sky.

Layers of dazzling crystal glare were dangerous and blinding, obstructing Themisia’s descent.

A crimson blade danced and swept, continuously shattering and severing the blue crystal clusters. Themisia pushed through layer by layer, closing in on the bottom until she split the last layer of blue ice.

Countless shards fell, but inside, there was nothing.

Themisia’s pupils contracted at this sight, and she dodged rapidly. Half a second later, the spot she had just occupied was pierced by the crystal spikes shooting down from the sky.

High above, Hexia also unfolded crystal-like wings from her back, colored in azure, and she held a jade-green crystal magic sword.

"You learn fast, Hexia." Themisia looked at the blue-eyed girl in the sky, knowing it was a transcendence profession condensed from her own knowledge. Although they hadn't fully merged, they had exchanged parts of their memories.

Hexia shook her head, offered no reply, and dove down. Her azure wings flapped in the air, leaving a beautiful arc.

"Then let's see who is stronger." Themisia whispered, then kicked off, flying upward to meet the descending Azure Morning Star.

One blue and one violet figure intertwined and separated repeatedly in the underground crystal cavern. Their crimson and jade-green magic swords clashed time and again, sparks of tiny fragments flying.

Radiant and colorful, the two fought from the high air to the ground and flew up again, like twin stars constantly entangling and clashing until a violent flash exploded, separating them.

Hexia and Themisia looked at each other in the air. Both were in a bad state, covered in various wounds, blood spilling and staining their dresses. Yet, neither cared. As the crystal brilliance of blue and violet flashed over their wounds, they slowly healed, returning to normal.

Just as Hexia learned to fight from Themisia, Themisia learned how to lick her wounds from Hexia. The brave learned to fight, and the timid learned to heal. They were on different paths.

"Perhaps I should praise you, my cute sister." Themisia rose slowly, the blood-red crystal magic sword in her hand gradually dissipating. "However, how much of 'me' have you truly learned? This alone won't be enough to defy me. Hehehe, hahaha—"

Her silhouette ascended, and the crystal wings behind her became increasingly eerie, like elongated purple-black butterfly wings with dangerous and beautiful patterns.

A dark-purple, floor-length gown appeared, covering Themisia. Then, two black roses grew from her wide black lotus sleeves.

The black roses bloomed, petals opening layer by layer, and a jet-black crystal blade slowly extended from the stamen. A flash of light passed, and a purple-black rhombus gem condensed on Themisia’s chest, light swirling within it as magical dust gathered from the void and flowed into it.

*Natural Sequence 5:妖紫玫瑰 (Bewitching Violet Rose) (Rating: Legendary Condensation Grade)*

"Don't worry, Hexia. It won't hurt much. It will be over soon." Her purple-black butterfly wings flapped, and her figure vanished instantly.

"This is!"

Hexia moved through the air like a refracted azure ray, dodging rapidly, but she couldn't escape the suddenly flashing purple-black figure. Themisia appeared behind her and thrust her sword out. The jet-black crystal blade pierced through Hexia’s chest, bringing with it a splash of fresh blood.

The blade twisted, and the intense pain left Hexia’s mind almost blank. Then, the black blade was withdrawn, taking a large amount of blood with it as it sprayed through the air.

The azure crystal wings slowly dissipated. Hexia watched the figure shrouded in a halo above her, falling slowly. The figure grew smaller and smaller, and the sound of the wind grew louder.

*Boom!*

A violent shock came from behind, causing Hexia to cough up blood. Her body lost its strength, and she collapsed into the crystal forest.

Slowly, the purple-black butterfly wings flapped, and the beautiful, eerie figure descended. Themisia walked to Hexia, who could no longer speak, and pointed her sword at her neck.

The blade didn't pierce down immediately. She was waiting—waiting for Hexia to admit defeat, to bow her head.

Seconds ticked by. Hexia coughed up blood, but she still stubbornly turned her face away, refusing to look at the familiar face before her. Seeing her refusal to obey, Themisia shook her head slightly and thrust the sword down.

*Sssss—*

Blood slid off the blade, but it didn't pierce her neck. Hexia had grabbed it with her hand. Her fair fingers were stained with thick blood, and her finger bones caught the blade, making a faint sound.

Themisia swung the blade, shaking Hexia’s wrist off, and pointed it at her again. "You really won't listen. Do you think I'll soften my heart just because you look like this?"

"If crying would make you soften your heart, I wouldn't mind crying."

"But you wouldn't, just as you know I won't shed any more tears." Under the threat of the blade, Hexia struggled to stand up, leaning against a large crystal pillar.

Themisia looked at her sister, took a deep breath, and said, "I won't be soft-hearted again."

With that, she lunged forward, thrusting her sword out and piercing Hexia once more. This time, she met no resistance. Hexia didn't dodge; her bloodied palm pressed onto Themisia’s shoulder, reaching forward as if to touch her sister’s face, but finally, her arm fell limp.

"Don't try anymore." Themisia released the hilt, stepped back a few paces, and watched the girl pinned to the crystal pillar. "I know how you escaped death last time. Although the Wither Sequence's Spirit Purification formula is effective for soul consciousness, I am currently Sequence 5. The toughness of my soul consciousness is not something that low-level formula can damage."

"Is that so..." Hexia wanted to say something, but she no longer had the strength.

Blood dripped slowly. Even though the wound on her chest tried to heal, it was cursed by the black crystal blade, preventing the wound from closing.

*So, was I wrong in the end? Should I not have persisted so meaninglessly...*

Her consciousness grew dimmer. Scenes flashed through her mind—the moments she had spent working at "Glazed Dreams." Belfinger, Andusias, Butis, Forous, Decrabie... everyone had taken such good care of her, patiently teaching her tips for life and work, helping her dress up, making her delicious food. In these short few days, she had felt a warmth she hadn't experienced in a long time.

People are greedy, foolish beings. Because she had tasted something delicious, she couldn't bear to let it go. Because she had experienced such beauty, she wasn't willing to die.

For the first time in ages, Hexia remembered a nursery rhyme from childhood. It was the ending theme of an anime. She had long forgotten what the anime was about, but the slightly melancholic lyrics and melody remained in her heart.

...

*From when did I stop daring to cry out loud?*

*Those friends who give me a headache just thinking about them,*

*Are they still as fond of teasing others as they used to be?*

*The world turned upside down~~*

*Running forward with all my might,*

*Because I was afraid of losing my way*

...

*Breaking through the finish line to enjoy the cheers,*

*No one left to dance with you anymore.*

*The noise in the attic has stopped urging me,*

*The gold-leaf lettering on the faded certificate,*

*Gives off a faint glimmer...*

...

*What is this!?*

Themisia stepped back, looking at the strange scene before her. Countless pale gold light particles emerged beside Hexia, and her figure, along with everything around her, rippled like the surface of water.

*[Space is like a string, time is like a melody; the rhythm of the world has begun to play.]*

Time reversed at this moment, like a rapidly played movie reel. The blood on the ground flew back, gathering at the wound. The blade that had pierced her chest withdrew automatically and dissipated. The torn wound returned to its original state, and even the damaged dress returned to its clean appearance, not a trace of disorder remaining.

Hexia closed her eyes, and countless memories played in reverse in her mind. Her entire life experience flashed before her eyes: exams, classes, studying, leaving school, buying things, cooking, sadness, happiness, writing, listening to others, watching TV, middle school, childhood...

*Wait! That is...*

Suddenly, she stopped at a scene in her memory—when she was ten years old. Her sister had gone to high school, and she was at home.

"Hexia, do you know why Mommy's hair is black?" One summer evening, her mother was taking her for a walk in the park.

"Because Grandma's hair is black too," Hexia answered seriously and intelligently.

"That's right." Her mother smiled and patted her head. "But that's not all. Where did Grandma's black hair come from?"

"I... I don't know." Hexia shook her head.

"Because our family is actually from the ancient Eastern Continent. The people there all had black hair and black eyes. However, the people of the Eastern Continent didn't have many left after the wars of the Fifth Era, and later they joined various countries."

"Many traditions and customs were broken. Nowadays, I rarely make flour-based foods at home, and I don't even know how to speak or write Eastern languages. But some things were preserved. Do you want to learn, Hexia?"

"I... I'm afraid I won't be able to learn it. Why don't you let Sister learn it first, and then she can teach me?"

"It's fine, you can learn it first. As for her, she might not need it anymore." Her mother said with a bitter smile. The school Themisia went to was the top in the galaxy; she probably wouldn't look at such outdated skills. "Actually, I don't know much either, just a set of sword techniques. Learning it will help you exercise your body."

"There should have been supporting internal cultivation methods and transcendence training secret arts, but those are all lost." *No wonder she said Sister wouldn't look at it.*

"Watch closely, Hexia. I’ll only demonstrate it once."

That evening, her mother used a wooden stick to demonstrate it simply. It really was only once. Since then, her mother never mentioned it again, probably thinking it was of no use.

However, all techniques have origins and causes. The clues still revealed the designer's train of thought from back then. The tiny details in time were magnified layer by layer, becoming incredibly clear.

Deducing the shape from the outline, the cause from the trajectory, and the internal cultivation outline from the move names—countless thoughts emerged in the layered time, as if the interrupted melody and movement were being completed. Everything became clearer.

In the few seconds that outsiders saw, Hexia seemed to have spent years. In her mind, countless figures flashed by, swinging their swords. Each move and supporting technique finally took shape and was imprinted in her heart. This might be something completely different from the original, but it was no less powerful.

---

In an instant, the light dissipated, and everything returned to normal. The two stood facing each other in the crystal-filled underground.

"I don't know what method you used, but even I know that this ability to reverse time cannot be used at will." Themisia looked at the black-haired, blue-eyed girl. "How many more times can you persist, Hexia?"

Suddenly, she teleported and vanished from her spot. Once again, she appeared behind Hexia and thrust her sword out. Hexia charged toward the spot where Themisia had originally stood, dodging the blow.

*She can appear anywhere, but never the same spot.* This was the only point Hexia could be sure of.

While rolling, Hexia’s jade-green blade clashed with Themisia’s again, and bursts of light flashed in the underground. As their bodies crossed, Hexia stepped on the wall and leaped into the air, spreading her arms like a wild goose. Just as Themisia prepared to seize this opening to thrust her sword, Hexia rose into the air like a feather, incredibly light.

Finally, she stopped high in the air and waved her sword. Countless crystals shattered and then rapidly condensed into a brand-new, ancient-style longsword. Its hilt was square, the blade slender and octagonal, and a blue silk tassel hung from the pommel.

Threads of magical light emerged from the void and gathered on Hexia. Her messy black hair was tied back with a blue ribbon shaped like a swallowtail herb. A moon-white classical Eastern long dress wrapped around her body, its collar, sleeves, and hem adorned with blue cloud patterns, and the fabric decorated with patterns of dancing swallows. The sleeves were wide, and the ribbons fluttered—dignified and magnificent.

*Natural Sequence 5: 青鸟折枝 (Blue Bird Snapping a Branch) (Legendary Condensation Grade)*

---

"Heh, interesting. Who did you learn that from? Don't tell me it's just more flash and no substance—"

No sooner said than done, Themisia’s figure shot up like a black streak of light, arriving in an instant. Black sword light, like thorny lightning, intertwined in the air.

Hexia closed her eyes, no longer relying on vision to sense Themisia’s trajectory, but depending on the intuition brought by her transcendence profession and her high-speed reaction ability.

She clashed with Themisia dozens of times in a few seconds, then suddenly turned her blade and sheathed it in her left hand. In an instant, her azure eyes opened, and a sharp, stunningly beautiful arc was slashed from mid-air.

*'Blue Bird Legacy: Swallow Shears the Moon!'*

The jet-black crystal blade snapped, flying apart under Themisia’s shocked gaze, and the arc slashed a deep, bone-reaching wound on her body.

The figure wrapped in purple-black butterfly wings plummeted from the sky, dodging the "Swallow Light" that kept swinging down from behind. The blade swung at high speed, like a thin layer of fluorescent light.

The two chasing each other fought continuously in the air, then crashed into the ground, shattering layers of crystals.

Amidst the wreckage of shattered crystals, Themisia stood up, wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, and looked at the ever-braver Hexia. She lunged forward again, a jet-black, thorn-like short sword appearing in her palm.

Swords crossed, ringing like metal, and fine crystal shards mixed with air waves scattered. Then, Themisia flapped her wings like a butterfly, retreating rapidly, and suddenly turned forward while Hexia was pursuing.

The black blade cut off Hexia’s ribbon and hair, then the thorn-like short sword in Themisia’s left hand plunged into the center of her back. A black curse mark spread across Hexia’s back, stiffening her body. But Themisia didn't stop, swinging her sword again to cut through Hexia’s hair before turning it in a massive arc to slash at her neck, intent on cutting her head off.

Things had reached this point; neither had any room to hold back.

In this perilous situation, Hexia kicked off with her toes, as if she could see Themisia’s movements behind her. She turned her body, matching the direction of her turn perfectly with the direction of the sword swing, narrowly avoiding the sweeping blade.

The jet-black crystal blade passed less than an inch from Hexia’s eyes, taking a few loose strands of hair with it. Then, she flipped her legs and kicked Themisia’s wrist, making her briefly lose strength and her grip on the sword.

After turning her body, the green-glowing sword light flashed, sweeping Themisia’s jet-black magic sword away. It flew high into the air and landed in the distance, piercing the crystal ground.

Having lost her weapon, Themisia flapped her wings and shot into the sky. Hexia followed closely. The two, like one black and one white streak of light, swayed and shook in the air, then intertwined and collided repeatedly.

Finally, Themisia stopped abruptly in the air, and the purple-black butterfly wings behind her suddenly expanded. Their patterns were bewitching and beautiful. Then, countless purple-black crystal mists dispersed from the patterns, shooting down like bullets, sweeping toward Hexia.

Out of caution against unknown attacks, Hexia blocked continuously, sweeping away all the purple-black crystal bullets, which ricocheted off the surrounding walls and the elevator shaft steel frames.

Her prediction was correct; once these crystal bullets hit objects, they quickly corroded and melted them, flowing down like liquid.

Taking advantage of this brief gap, Themisia performed a brand-new secret art in the sky.

The black magic sword she had thrown was tossed high into the air. She extended her left hand, and the purple crystal on her wrist grew into vines. These vines and leaves spread to both sides, forming a long branch-net bow arm. The hollow parts seemed to form the patterns of a special magic array. A current of air passed from top to bottom, and as the air blew through, the branch net of purple thorns made a strange, moaning sound.

The previously tossed black magic sword fell and was caught by Themisia. The jet-black crystal sword continued to elongate in her hand, forming a unique, spiraling arrow. Countless air currents infused with the magic of the Natural Sequence poured into it, and the spiraling long arrow bloomed with a dazzling light.

"Pierce through, Elf Secret Art: Whirling Wind Net Arrow!"

A transparent, colorless air channel formed instantly in the air, and the arrow traveled through it without a trace. The shooting and the hit seemed to happen at the same moment, leaving Hexia with no way to dodge.

The powerful black spiral arrow pierced her body with heart-drilling pain, then carried her straight down, finally pinning her limbs to the ground.

High above, Themisia didn't rush to pursue. She opened her hands again, and the two black magic swords blooming from the roses were gripped in her hands once more. The purple light in her eyes burned, and the black magic swords were plated with a layer of bewitching violet flame. Then, the two magic swords were held together and slowly melted into one. Finally, a wide black-purple magic sword exuding a dangerous aura was held in her hand.

In the deep purple, near-black crystal, countless imprinted patterns were spread like circuits, and golden light filaments circulated within, driving a complex, high-level Aejka formula.

*Annihilation · Curse · Highly Toxic · Instant Slash*

Layer upon layer of dangerous transcendental effects were added to the blade.

"Farewell, Hexia."

Her beautiful butterfly wings flapped, and Themisia slowly descended from the sky with the black-purple magic sword. She wasn't fast, but in this slow descent, layer after layer of bewitching violet magic power pressed down, bringing a suffocating momentum.

Pinned to the ground, Hexia struggled with all her might, finally freeing her right hand from the seal of the black spiral arrow. She grasped the green ancient sword condensed from the void and slashed horizontally, severing all the spiral arrows.

Looking at Themisia descending slowly in the sky, she knew there was no avoiding it now. Under the weight of such heavy magic and momentum, once she entered Themisia’s vicinity, she would be stalled by the thick, compressed air waves, making it difficult to even move.

*What to do?* Numerous thoughts flashed through Hexia’s mind. *No time to choose—this will have to do.*

She dropped the sword in her hand and spread her hands slightly. The crystal earth beside her vibrated, and violent gem spikes erupted. These spikes weren't the previous crystals, but rather crystals extracted and purified from the underground rock.

A tall gem forest rose from the ground, shooting into the sky. Its colors were magnificent and kaleidoscopic, transparent, and refracting layer upon layer of shadows.

After this move, Hexia felt a wave of exhaustion surge, and she almost couldn't stand. *I can't use this talent again; if I do, I’ll pass out,* she realized.

High in the sky, Themisia shattered the rising gem pillars one by one, her momentum undiminished. She didn't care about her speed; she wanted to maintain absolute suppression over Hexia.

Black-purple magic burned, and the great sword swung, turning the gem pillars into falling shards. Amidst the sparkling dust, a figure in a white dress and black hair suddenly appeared. Themisia slashed, but the glass shattered—it was just a reflection.

Hexia lunged from the other side. She didn't have the time or strength to condense a weapon to clash with Themisia, so she could only seek life in the midst of peril.

Her fair palm slapped the blade, causing it to tilt slightly, dodging the slash. Then, Hexia gripped the hilt of the wide magic sword, as if both were holding the giant sword together.

A faint blue light flickered at the tail of the deep purple, near-black magic sword and spread upward. As natural twins, the essence of their souls and magic was almost identical, so there was no rejection like with other transcedents.

Deep purple and faint blue devoured and vied for control within the sword, neither gaining the upper hand.

"Now you remember I'm your sister?" Themisia glared at Hexia, the violet in her eyes nearly burning.

"I never forgot, Sister." Hexia didn't back down, blue magic flames igniting in her eyes.

"Stupid!" Themisia swung the sword with all her might, trying to force it toward Hexia.

"Arrogant!" Hexia moved with the sword, and they collided again. But this time, neither could free a hand.

They swayed with the blue-violet magic sword, attacking and interfering with each other, fighting from the sky to the ground, and from the ground to the sky. The giant sword swung continuously, severing steel frames in the elevator shaft, and the surrounding walls were filled with deep scratches and gashes. If this weren't an uninhabited underground area, someone would have noticed long ago.

The struggle continued until, minutes later, the giant magic sword shattered, splitting down the middle. Each gripped half, condensed them into their familiar blade styles, and attacked again.

In a corner of the elevator shaft, Jolong hid in a rock crevice, observing the twin sisters fighting. His eyes held nothing but shock and awe.

*Is this really a level reachable at this age? Even legendary geniuses, at 16 or 17, are probably just being introduced to high-level formulas in school.*

Although he hadn't attended school properly, he knew the situation of transcendence practitioners from his master. Theoretically, reaching Sequence 4 before 24 was considered extremely talented. Such talents were usually graduates of prestigious schools or members of major factions. Even the top geniuses recorded by the Federation were only Sequence 4 at 16. What he was seeing now were two 16-17-year-old girls with Sequence 5, nearly Sequence 6, strength. And their fighting style, aside from being a bit messy at the start, became increasingly skillful. It was as if he were watching them go through years of hard training and honing in just one hour.

Their combat skills and secret arts were unheard of. Even mastering just one would make them famous throughout Pipa City, yet they used them one after another, rarely repeating the same move from start to finish.

What could have happened to these powerful twins to make them fight to the death? They were both using life-or-death tactics, not fearing their own severe injuries.

However, even such a legendary battle was coming to an end. To save energy and magic, Hexia and Themisia stopped using powerful, cumbersome skills and started clashing with swordsmanship.

*"Fairy Secret Art: Instant Flash!"*

*"Blue Bird Legacy: Flying Snow Across the Boat!"*

High in the air, the butterfly wings behind Themisia transformed into transparent fairy cicada wings, then suddenly flapped, vanishing from the spot. On the other side, Hexia swung her sword in a continuous turn, the silver blade dancing with her body, countless fine sword flowers scattering like flying snow.

Facing Hexia, who was like a hedgehog, Themisia thrust her sword in, only to be instantly entangled and shredded by the silver sword light. They separated again.

*"Elf Secret Art: Seven Butterfly Incarnations!"*

*"Blue Bird Legacy: Snapping the Branch Three Times!"*

Themisia’s figure changed rapidly. As she flapped her wings in the air, seven identical figures appeared, each holding a jet-black crystal magic sword. The seven flashed, thrusting toward Hexia from all different directions, leaving no blind spots.

Hexia didn't move in the air. The blade in her hand swung slowly, leaving trails of afterimages. Just as the seven reached her, the silver sword light suddenly swept out, like moonlight pouring down.

*First sword, silver radiance flashed, slashing away three figures, turning them into smoke...*

*Second sword, the new moon like a string, the swords in their hands shattered into seven pieces...*

*Third sword, the moon shone brightly, one was sent flying, sword and all, turning into fine crystal powder...*

The last one attacked from behind Hexia. The black magic sword pierced through Hexia’s back, running her through. Hexia’s sword spun and also plunged into her own chest, skewering the Themisia behind her.

The two and their two swords intertwined, falling slowly from the heights, and separated again as they neared the ground.

The blades clashed continuously in the air, sparks and fragments flying, and their bodies grew weaker, their movements slower. Finally, they stood in the gem forest, looking at each other from afar. Neither had the energy or magic to continue.

Thick blood dripped down, but without magic to heal, they could only quietly feel their lives ebbing away.

"I’m truly shameful." Themisia released the blood-stained hilt, swaying as she leaned against a shattered giant gem. She had to admit that Hexia had grown to the same level as her.

On the other side, Hexia also leaned against a gem block, her body limp, unable to stand.

"Sister is too arrogant."

"Heh, you dare to talk back now, huh." Themisia didn't care. She leaned her head back against the gem, looking at this underground world filled with crystals and gems. The violet and blue crystal clusters adorned the dark underground like a fairytale dream.

"It’s truly beautiful." She slowly closed her eyes, her breathing gradually stopping.

Then, her body dispersed like quicksand, and the sword that had pierced her chest rolled off, bouncing slightly on the ground before landing with a crisp, tinkling sound.

A long time later, purple light particles floated up from the sand and drifted toward Hexia’s body, slowly being absorbed until, finally, her other pupil also revealed a faint violet glow.

"I have received your longing, Sister..."

An hour later, Jolong slowly climbed down. He navigated carefully through the crystal forest filled with spikes until he finally saw the flawless girl surrounded by countless gems.

She sat on a lonely gem throne, her eyes cast down, looking at the two swords held in her arms: one as green as jade, the other deep purple, nearly black.