Chapter 80: True Vision

Mel did not answer.

The clear blue light in her right eye became increasingly pronounced, as if stars were twinkling within it.

Through this strange vision, she saw complex lines wrapping around Isabella's body—

They were as fine as silk threads, yet flowed like water.

These lines intertwined into a marvelous pattern, predicting the opponent's possible trajectory of action.

Isabella felt the abnormality in Mel's gaze, and her inner unease grew rapidly.

The hand gripping the long sword trembled slightly, her knuckles white from the effort.

"You... monster!"

She shrieked sharply, her voice trembling with fear and anger.

Suddenly, Isabella lunged forward fiercely, her long sword slicing through the air, coming straight for Mel's throat.

The blade shimmered with a chilling cold light in the dim light, as if intending to sever every obstacle.

However, Mel's body slightly tilted at an almost impossible angle.

The edge of the sword grazed past her neck, leaving only a shallow red mark on her skin.

"Only blindly imitating is useless," Mel said softly, just as Charlotte had told her back then.

"Those fighting techniques are controlling you, not you utilizing them."

Isabella's pupils contracted, a flicker of panic in her eyes.

She began to swing her long sword frantically, every strike containing lethal force, yet always narrowly evaded by Mel by a hair's breadth.

Mel's movements looked effortless, but in reality, every step was precise to the extreme.

The blue light circulated in the girl's right eye, seemingly able to perceive all secrets.

The lines wrapping around Isabella's body became clearer in her vision; the trajectory of every attack was perfectly visible.

Sebastian stood frozen to the side, watching the fight between Mel and Isabella, his brows slightly furrowed.

For some reason, he actually felt a hint of repulsion coming from Mel.

The same as the one he felt from Isabella.

"Impossible... this is impossible!"

Isabella gritted her teeth, fine beads of sweat seeping from her forehead.

Her attacks grew increasingly ferocious, almost perfectly replicating Sebastian's combat techniques.

The long sword cut cold streaks of light in the air, yet it was consistently unable to touch Mel in the slightest.

A flicker of pity crossed Mel's eyes.

She sighed softly, and the The New Moon in her right hand was slightly raised.

"It's over."

Before the words fell, Isabella instinctively adopted a defensive stance.

But Mel's figure vanished from the spot.

【Void Walk】!

The next moment, the girl's figure silently appeared behind Isabella.

The blade of The New Moon gently pressed against the back of the opponent's neck.

Impending death.

Isabella's whole body stiffened, and the long sword in her hand dropped to the floor.

She slowly turned her head, looking at Mel in disbelief.

"What... what exactly are you?"

She issued her final question before being taken out of the trial.

Mel did not reply, only silently watching her.

The blue light in her right eye gradually faded, returning to its original amber color.

The crimson blade cut a graceful arc, severing Isabella's neck.

Fresh blood gushed out of it, so warm.

Isabella's eyes widened.

She stared at Mel in disbelief, her lips trembling slightly, seemingly wanting to say something, but no sound could be made.

Blood splashed onto Mel's face and clothes; the warm sensation made her frown slightly.

Isabella's body slowly fell, life rapidly receding like a tide.

Mel stood quietly in place, watching Isabella's life gradually fade.

There was no joy or sorrow in her eyes, only an indescribable calmness.

"It's over."

Mel said softly.

Charlotte's figure was like a black flash of lightning, traversing the gloomy corridor.

Her target was only one person—the fleeing Emily.

The raven followed closely, emitting a grating screech, as if playing an overture for this chase.

Emily's footsteps echoed ahead, mixed with rapid gasps.

She fiercely pushed open a door and rushed into a spacious library.

Bookshelves lined the room, and the air was filled with the scent of aged paper.

She frantically looked around, searching for a possible escape route.

Charlotte followed closely, gracefully stepping into the room.

Her Lycoris-colored eyes flashed with dangerous light in the darkness, like a predator locking onto its prey.

"No more running?"

Charlotte asked softly.

Emily's back was pressed against a row of bookshelves, her chest heaving violently.

Her eyes were filled with fear and fury, like a cornered beast.

"You bitch!"

Emily shrieked sharply.

"Do you think killing me will get you anything?"

Just then, the raven suddenly swooped down.

Its knife-like talons deeply embedded themselves in Emily's shoulder blade, causing her to twitch and scream.

"You're actually helping that damned bastard deal with me! Are you crazy, Helena!"

Emily glared and cursed at the raven furiously, but the raven ignored her, only rising into the air again.

Charlotte held her Sword cane tightly and slowly walked to Emily's side.

Emily's pupils abruptly contracted, reflecting the scene of the next two seconds in her vision.

That was the only mystical art she had learned.

To be able to see two seconds into the future.

But it was limited only to seeing.

At this moment, Emily was completely powerless to change that future.

"Pfft!"

The sharp blade pierced the body; blood instantly gushed out.

Charlotte's movement was clean and efficient, without any hesitation.

There was neither pity nor anger in the girl's Lycoris-colored eyes, as if she were simply completing the most ordinary of tasks.

Emily's pupils suddenly dilated.

She looked down in disbelief at the inserted Sword cane in her chest.

Blood slowly flowed down the blade, pooling into a patch of glaring crimson on the floor.

"You... this...."

Emily spoke with difficulty, her voice full of unwillingness and confusion.

She raised her head, staring intently into Charlotte's eyes with her last remaining strength.

The tip of Charlotte's sword was still dripping blood; her Lycoris-colored pupils reflected Emily's gradually glazing eyes.

She watched Emily's eyes expressionlessly, slowly rotating the Sword cane in her hand.

"Do you have any last words, Sister?"

Charlotte abruptly pulled out the Sword cane.

Blood sprayed out like a fountain, but Emily suddenly raised her hand and grabbed the hilt, allowing the warm plasma to flow down her fingers into her sleeve.

When the last shred of life dissipated, she actually gave a strange smile.

"You this"

She seemed to want to say something, but her body had already collapsed, lifeless.

When Charlotte returned to Mel's side, she saw the girl bathed in blood.

Mel was currently standing opposite Sebastian, the two of them facing each other.

With the external enemies dealt with, the only thing remaining was the hunt between the Red Moon Shepherds.

Although, who was the hunter and who was the prey was hard to say.

Mel and Sebastian stood facing each other; a suffocating tension permeated the air.

Their gazes met, as if invisible sparks were flying in the air.

Charlotte silently came to Mel's side, raised her Sword cane without a sound, and whispered, "Do you need help?"

"No need."

Mel gently shook her head, her gaze never leaving Sebastian.

"This is between us," she replied softly.

This was a hunt between Red Moon Shepherds; no third party could intervene.

"It's hard to imagine that you are only a Development Phase Shepherd."

Sebastian said softly.

"I thought you were at least the Silver stage."

"Thank you for the high regard, Mr. Sebastian."

Mel quietly thanked the enemy before her.

Moonlight streamed through the broken stained-glass window, landing on the blood-stained The New Moon in her hand.

Sebastian's blood blade dragged a winding blood trail on the ground, carving sharp edges into the marble floor.

He took a deep breath, and the blood-colored long sword in his hand was slightly raised.

"Can you answer one question for me, little girl?"

He said.

"Your eyes... what exactly was that thing?"