Chapter 14: You’re a Heroine Too?! (Part III)

Blood mist splattered, spreading a shocking crimson in the air.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

But that wasn’t all.

Laige Caicai’s invisible blades kept firing, one after another, striking down Espers in succession.

“Ah!”

“It hurts!”

“Captain, save me!”

“What kind of attack is this?!”

The stinging pain felt like needles pricking all over, jolting everyone awake from their earlier daze.

Every nerve screamed.

But that awakening came too late.

Along with the agony, their spiritual power drained rapidly, making it impossible to drive any Spells in retaliation.

Then their legs gave out.

Before they could even cry for help, one by one they collapsed to the ground.

In just one minute, of the ten from the Internal Affairs Department, only Executive Team Leader Lu Xiya remained standing.

Apart from the one who had been carried away at the start, the other eight were all instantly defeated by the invisible blades and blue-eyed Illusion Eye.

The Demon Academy had sent an entire medical team.

They moved quickly, rushing forward with professional medical equipment and calmly lifting the wounded onto stretchers.

Only then did Laige Caicai stop attacking and toss away the dried-up straw in her hand.

After the medical staff transported the wounded away on stretchers, only Lu Xiya was left on the empty field.

She stood alone, surrounded by patches of still-drying bloodstains spreading silently in the quiet.

On the other side, the Motefei Four Sisters stood unharmed, looking nonchalant, as if they hadn’t even used their full strength.

The outcome was decided.

No more suspense.

“Unforgivable.”

But Lu Xiya’s face darkened, her eyes sharper than ever, showing no sign of backing down.

Even alone, she would fight.

“Stubborn as death.”

Laige Caicai’s smile gradually faded, replaced by a focused expression.

‘Remembering the System Quest she had just received, it clearly stated that this white-haired girl was also a Heroine character.’

‘Her appearance screams protagonist, and her actions do too—standing up for the weak against the strong.’

‘But for a Transmigrator, this is beyond expectations. How can there be two Heroines?’

‘This white-haired woman doesn’t even exist in the Original Plot. What went wrong?’

‘So I can’t underestimate her. I have to go all out.’

‘The best solution is to kill this white-haired Heroine right now, to eliminate the future threat.’

‘If she’s allowed to grow, she’ll probably become something invincible like the Psionic Empress and definitely come to the villain sisters for revenge.’

Incidentally, only Laige Caicai, who before her death had been a melancholic sixteen-year-old who devoured light novels and anime, could think of that.

As for Laige Yulian and Laige Fuling—one a sunny college student and the other an unemployed drifter—they were merely confused, catching few details and feeling no sense of crisis about the future.

“Focus. Don’t space out.”

Laige Caicai knew that this was the perfect moment for the protagonist to show off.

Under the spotlight, with fallen comrades as fuel, the protagonist’s fighting spirit only burns brighter.

A protagonist can fail countless times.

Each seemingly crushing defeat can be an opportunity for growth, laying the groundwork for future power-ups and cleverly paving the way to a higher level.

But a villainess can’t afford to lose.

A loss means instant disgrace and a dead end.

“Big Sis, there’s only one left. Let’s finish this quickly.”

Laige Yulian spoke beside her, her tone devoid of any urgency.

“You control her, then I can strike.”

Laige Caicai said.

Laige Yulian had no choice.

She sighed and turned her blue eyes toward Lu Xiya.

But Lu Xiya simply closed her eyes on the spot, unaffected by the Illusion Eye.

“Hmm?”

Laige Yulian let out a puzzled sound.

“She saw through your Spell.”

Laige Caicai remarked with a sharp smile.

[Illusion Eye] — the trigger condition for this Spell was extremely convenient.

A brief eye contact with the target was enough to instantly control them.

The whole process was silent and highly efficient.

However, this mental control effect wasn’t absolute.

It largely depended on the difference in spiritual power between the user and the target.

The weak, once caught, would instantly lose their mind like before, becoming drooling idiots—a true control skill.

Then Big Sis could use Air Slash to cut down the controlled enemies like chopping vegetables.

One focused on precision strikes, the other on control and binding.

They coordinated flawlessly, instantly defeating nine elite young Espers with impressive strength, stunning everyone.

But now that Lu Xiya had seen through Laige Yulian’s Illusion Eye, Big Sis Caicai’s simpler Air Slash must have been seen through too.

“Big Sis, her eyes are closed, so she’s technically under my control, right? Go ahead and strike.”

Laige Yulian said.

Laige Caicai didn’t reply.

She slowly raised her arm, extended two fingers, and invisible mana rapidly gathered at her fingertips.

Then, with a sharp flick of her wrist, a fierce Air Blade shot out.

Clang!

But Lu Xiya’s ears twitched.

She raised her hand forcefully, making a drawing gesture.

Looking closely, she was actually holding a light blade sword that appeared from nowhere, its blade glowing with cold mana.

It deflected the intangible Air Blade.

“That’s an [Illusory Weapon – Manifestation]. It’s a unique technique that shapes mana into a solid weapon. Its form and characteristics are endlessly variable, depending entirely on the user’s intent. It often manifests bizarre weapons that the opponent never expected, making it hard to defend against.”

The side-character girl Lingxiang turned into a commentator, explaining from behind.

In a flash, the white-haired Lu Xiya shot forward like a silver lightning bolt.

She poured all her mana into the light blade in her hand.

The weapon, made of pure energy, burst into blinding radiance.

With a screech that tore the air, she charged at full speed, lunging at the Motefei Four Sisters with desperate determination.

“Big Sis, use your invincible Air Slash and think of something!”

The useless Laige Yulian was starting to panic.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of breaking wind suddenly rang out, cutting through the quiet air.

Laige Caicai flicked her wrist, unleashing three sharp slashes in an instant.

Her movements were lightning-fast, leaving three visible vacuum blade trails in the air.

But Lu Xiya, as if she had some kind of cheat vision, swung her sword with quick hands and easily blocked them.

What’s more, she kept her eyes closed the entire time, relying purely on hearing to locate her opponent.

Her reactions were astonishingly fast.

In the blink of an eye, she was right in front of Laige Caicai, ready to strike.

Was this the power of a Heroine?!

…

[Phantom Shield – Manifestation].