Chapter 82: Scepter Liberation【Mirror Reflection Flash】

The scalding metal climbed up Sebastian’s legs; every inch of progress brought excruciating, tearing pain.

Sebastian desperately struggled, trying to free himself from the iron slag, but his efforts were futile.

“No... don’t! Stop!”

Sebastian let out a piercing scream, but Veronica paid no attention.

Her hands danced in the air, as if conducting a grand symphony.

The surrounding steel forest began to tremble, and countless metal fragments flew from all directions, integrating into Sebastian’s body.

His skin began to glow with a metallic sheen, and his muscles hardened like iron.

Sebastian's screams gradually diminished, eventually fading into a low moan.

When Veronica stopped her movements, what stood before her was only a lifelike iron statue.

It showed no trace of life.

“Phew....”

Veronica retracted her hand, gently wiping the sweat from her forehead.

Then, her gaze fell upon Charlotte and Helena nearby.

“You are—”

Charlotte spoke softly.

Her intuition told her that the person before her was absolutely not the Miss Melantha she knew.

“What did you do to Miss Melantha?”

“Don't worry, the child is just sleeping.”

Veronica smiled slightly, then slowly walked to the edge of the corridor.

After patiently sweeping away the surrounding glass shards, she gently sat down.

“The rest is up to you.”

She looked at Charlotte and said softly.

“Don’t let that child be alone.”

As the words fell, Veronica slowly closed her eyes, quietly falling asleep.

Charlotte stood frozen in place, only coming back to her senses after a while.

She then picked up her sword and walked toward Helena.

“Finally coming for me?”

Helena watched Charlotte slowly approach.

The raven on her shoulder let out a restless cry.

“Quiet, Miles.”

Helena said softly.

And so, the raven stopped fussing, resting quietly in its master's arms.

It waited with her for death to arrive.

“I always disliked you.”

Helena said calmly.

“Do you know why?”

“Because I am an illegitimate daughter with impure blood.”

“No, to be precise, that's not the reason.”

Helena gently shook her head.

“I hate you because you can’t even be called human—you fundamentally lack what one calls a soul.”

Charlotte's sword paused in mid-air, and the girl frowned slightly.

“What do you mean?”

“It's the literal meaning.”

Helena chuckled softly.

“I don't know who you are at all, but for some absurd reason, a pile of disgusting memories was shoved into my mind.”

“I don’t understand....”

“Then don’t bother.”

Helena raised her head, looking into Charlotte’s eyes.

“Although I don't like you, consider this pity.”

She paused, then showed a look full of compassion.

“After you kill me, commit suicide. Don't go looking for Big Brother. Although he seems quite... in reality, that man is rotten to the core. Trust me, if you go to him, no matter who wins in the end, you won't be happy.”

“What are you talking about!”

For some reason, Charlotte felt inexplicably agitated.

The Sword cane stabbed into Helena’s chest.

Helena’s pupils contracted, then the corners of her mouth gently curled up.

In the last few seconds before death, her bloodied lips moved, uttering a word with a metallic echo: “Simulacrum”

Charlotte pulled out the sword and turned to look at Mel.

She gently walked over and checked the girl's breathing.

“She’s just asleep....”

Charlotte subtly let out a sigh of relief, then recalled Veronica's instruction to her.

“Alone....”

The girl lowered her gaze, then gently stroked Mel's cheek, softly wiping away the bloodstains for her.

“Please wait for me here, Miss Melantha.”

Charlotte said softly, then slowly stood up and walked toward the main hall.

“I’m going to find my answer.”

Charlotte gently pushed open the main hall door.

A suffocating, oppressive aura rushed toward her.

In the spacious hall, only Edward stood quietly, as if he had been waiting for a long time.

Beside him, Victoria was sitting in a corner, still holding the Scepter in her hand.

“Only you returned?”

Edward's gaze swept past the door, then he slowly raised the sword in his hand.

“How disappointing.”

Edward's gaze was cold.

“So, have you come to challenge me, or to beg for my mercy?”

He raised his sword, pointing it at Charlotte.

Charlotte did not answer, only silently raised the Sword cane in her hand.

Golden patterns appeared in her Lycoris-colored eyes, brimming with killing intent.

“Hah, you intend to kill me?”

Edward chuckled softly.

“Consider it an impromptu performance before the succession; I grant you this honor.”

As soon as the words fell, Charlotte moved first, her boot heel twisting a half-circle indentation into the carpet.

The Sword cane cut a cold streak through the air, striking toward Edward's throat like lightning.

The sharp blade cut a fierce arc in the air.

The moment the sword edges collided, the candlelight stretched into thin golden lines in both their pupils.

Edward’s thrust was aimed precisely at Charlotte’s throat, but it was deflected by the side edge of her Sword cane in the final half-inch.

The sword edge grazed past her ear, and severed strands of white hair scattered in the candlelight like stardust.

Amidst the sound of metal scraping, Charlotte spun around, utilizing the momentum.

Her ponytail cut a sharp arc through the air, her sword tip aimed directly at the opening beneath the opponent's ribs.

“Too slow.”

Edward slightly flicked his wrist.

The blade that had been deflected suddenly coiled back like a snake.

The sword spine slid down the spiral texture of the Sword cane.

It was blocked again just as it was about to sever Charlotte's wrist.

"Clang!"

The weighted pommel at the end of the cane handle precisely struck the sword blade.

Charlotte retreated half a step, her heel carving two indentations into the carpet.

The moment Edward's sudden attack was parried, he stopped his stance and surged forward again.

At the same time, the golden patterns in Charlotte's pupils suddenly flared brightly——the trajectory of three thrusts was prematurely drawn as faint red phantom images on her retina.

Left shoulder, right knee, and heart!

Charlotte’s body reacted instinctively, her movements as smooth as flowing water.

Her left shoulder slightly turned, her right knee lightly raised, and the Sword cane simultaneously blocked across her chest.

The three attacks missed as predicted, the sound of metal clashing echoing in the hall.

And just as all three of Edward's attacks were blocked, Charlotte’s aura suddenly soared.

—Scepter Liberation【Mirror Reflection Flash】!

The Sword cane in her hand hooked upward with an extremely tricky angle.

The sword guard precisely collided with the fatal thrust aimed at her heart.

The instant Edward's hand felt numb, Charlotte suddenly released her left hand, allowing the Sword cane to spin half a rotation in her palm.

The thin, reverse-edged blade sprang out in a follow-up strike, slashing Edward.

Edward raised his hand to thrust.

Charlotte blocked again; the metal collided, emitting a crisp buzz.

“Reverse Blade!”

Accompanied by a sharp cry, Charlotte spun forward, utilizing the rebound force from the block.

The cane tip slid along the opponent’s sword spine, creating glaring sparks, and thrust into the center opening just as the veins on Edward’s wrist bulged.

The weighted pommel precisely struck his chest centre acupoint.

The moment Edward grunted and retreated, the girl’s knee strike forcefully hit the numb nerve of his sword-wielding hand.

With a clang, the Sword cane fell onto the marble floor.

“A beautiful joint-lock technique.”

Edward shook his paralyzed right hand and retreated three steps, his left hand suddenly grabbing the scarf from his neck and tossing it into the air.

The moment the silk obstructed her vision, the toe of his boot hooked the edge of the carpet.

The next moment, the entire Persian carpet flipped up like a wave!

Charlotte swiftly retreated, swinging her sword to cut through the obstruction, only to see that Edward had picked up the cast-iron fire tongs next to the fireplace.

The glowing red tip swept across her lower body with a wave of heat.

She leaped onto the long table; crystal wine glasses exploded continuously beneath her heels.

“The edicts only mentioned blade-to-blade confrontation.”

Edward swung the fire tongs into a crimson whirlwind.

“A glowing red fire tongs is still a weapon, isn't it?”

Charlotte continuously backflipped across the tabletop, the heat wave scorching the hem of her skirt.

When the fire tongs swept past for the third time, she suddenly executed a backward pike, wrapping her legs around the chandelier chain, using the chain's swing to thrust forward!

Charlotte’s sudden attack was like a silver flash of lightning; her Sword cane pointed straight at Edward’s throat.

However, Edward’s reaction speed far exceeded her expectations.

He swayed, sidestepping the fatal blow at an incredible angle.

At the same time, the fire tongs in his hand coiled around Charlotte’s Sword cane like a venomous snake.

"Clang!"

The sound of metal clashing echoed in the hall.

Charlotte felt a massive force transmit through the impact.

She was flung out and heavily crashed against the wall.

"Crack!"

The sound of breaking bone was clearly audible.

Charlotte slid painfully to the floor, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth.

Edward slowly walked over, the fire tongs in his hand cutting a crimson arc through the air.

“I admit, you certainly surprised me,” He said coldly.

“But now, the game is over.”