As Lyr and Nie Qi had guessed, many people in the outermost areas were watching this scene at the Academy, including Dean Lulong.
“Dean, shouldn’t we stop this?” someone asked.
The Devouring Witch’s words made them far too worried. If Lyr actually gave in and turned coat, all the results they wanted would be for nothing, and they might even lose what they had been seeking all along.
“Yeah, that kid also has the power of a witch. You can handle one witch, but two would be a bit troublesome, especially since there’s still a witch bloodline.”
Lulong stared fixedly at the scene. After a long moment, he said, “Wait a little longer.”
They had waited far too long for this opportunity.
If they were wrong, that particular ruins might never be opened again.
Now that they had caused such a commotion, those nobles who had been obstructing their plans would not let this go easily.
Without a clear result, it would not just be him—Lyr and Yilu would be implicated as well, along with their two families behind them.
Lulong was also worried that Lyr might waver. His state right now was far too delicate. If he took that step, he would be standing on their opposing side.
But recalling Lyr’s way of handling things during this time, Lulong couldn’t say whether he truly believed in Lyr or was just clinging to hope.
At the spot where everyone was watching, Lyr remained silent for a long time.
Just as Nie Qi had said, with the Full Moon hanging high, the strange voices in his head grew more and more numerous. Even now, there was no one else around except them.
He closed his eyelids and shook his head with effort. The hollows under his eyes grew darker and deeper. His spirit was being continuously eroded, as if it was about to slip from his control.
His lips parted slightly, and his breathing became ragged and hurried, a sign that his agitation was rising.
He had never been like this before, yet it felt as though he had always been this way.
He had played the good-natured role for too long. All those unintentional emotions that had built up were now surging forth all at once.
“The Nightmare Tongue lineage of witches is truly interesting. That Little Crybaby, after she became a witch, once showed the same expression you have now.”
Nie Qi knew that no matter how tough Lyr’s rationality was, he was about to reach his limit.
“But I think you’re different from her. You’re definitely not as cowardly as she was. You have such immense power—you shouldn’t be restrained under anyone else’s control. You should do whatever you want, free from all bonds, and do what you desire.”
“Come on, join me. Let the world know of the existence of the Nightmare Tongue’s power.”
She continued to tempt Lyr, wanting him to make the choice she desired.
Lyr slowly lowered the hand holding his sword, as if he was about to give up resisting. Nie Qi couldn’t help but show a satisfied smile.
Suddenly, Lyr, with his head lowered, started laughing for no apparent reason. The laughter carried no emotion, making it frightening to hear.
“Lyr…” Behind him, Yilu watched him with worry.
Yilu wanted to step forward and touch Lyr, to pull him out of that malignant state, but the sharp pain in her pierced palm made her wince, making it hard to move.
“Yes, that’s it.” This was exactly what Nie Qi had wanted.
The laughter was almost twisted, familiar to her—exactly what she had hoped to see.
“Come on, let’s go take what belongs to a witch, and then destroy this place. Not a single one left.”
No matter how strong this Kingdom was, during the Full Moon season, the combined power of two flourishing and powerful witches would be enough to turn everything upside down.
Not to mention the power of the Nightmare Witch they were about to obtain.
Just as she stepped forward, in the next second, Lyr, who should have been standing still, suddenly vanished.
Nie Qi was stunned for a moment. In an instant, Lyr’s figure appeared right in front of her. The long sword was once again aimed at her—this time at her neck, as if to cut her head off.
At the critical moment, a thorn shot up from the ground, striking Lyr’s sword from below and deflecting it slightly.
Even so, the sword’s edge still passed dangerously close to Nie Qi’s neck, cutting off a lock of her bright red hair.
Taking advantage of the gap, Nie Qi stepped back.
She raised her hand and touched the wound on her neck. When she saw the fallen hair on the ground, her expression froze for a moment, then slowly twisted into fury.
“You bastard, how dare you!”
She could tolerate the damage to her clothes, but her hair was the one thing she would never allow anyone to defile.
In the long years, someone had once killed her in a similar fashion, but later she had turned the tables on them with her fake death.
Lyr was the first to make her feel this way and had also touched her bottom line.
Not far in front of her, Lyr raised his head, black aura emanating from his entire body.
“Your offer is quite nice. I do like being unrestrained, but my freedom doesn’t need anyone’s permission, and certainly not the approval of someone like you.”
Witch or not, the Nie Qi before him was without a doubt the type of person he hated most.
Since the Curse couldn’t be suppressed now and was making him irritable—to the point where even he couldn’t fully control himself—why not vent all those emotions on this woman?
“Good, very good.”
Nie Qi’s face twisted with rage. She raised both hands, and countless thorns spiraled up from beneath her feet.
“Then all of you will die here!”
This time, she had lost all patience.
She had originally planned to use the Curse affecting Lyr to make him destroy the Kingdom for her, but she never expected it to turn out like this.
Seeing the massive attack coming, Lyr stepped back, gripping the Thunder Spirit Sword tightly. The black aura of the Mark on the back of his hand grew denser.
The lightning and the black aura intertwined, transforming into even greater Magic Power.
Instead of retreating, he charged straight toward the thorns.
The two powerful forces collided with immense force, causing a sky-shaking commotion.
Residents far away, unaware of the situation, felt the Street tremble a few times.
After the uproar, the sound of clashing blades rang out continuously.
A thorn coalesced in Nie Qi’s hand, forming a thorn sword that constantly parried the Thunder Spirit Sword in Lyr’s hand.
“This sword has the power of a Thunder Fairy.” After her initial surprise, Nie Qi’s expression twisted again. “But unless that creature actually descends here, no one can help you today.”
She effortlessly blocked the Thunder Spirit Sword while using her other hand to drive thorns at Lyr from every direction.
Even though Lyr had practical combat experience that Noble Students lacked, her countless years of experience were something he could never make up for.
Moreover, Lyr still couldn’t fully wield a witch’s power. Nie Qi was completely overwhelming him.
Seizing an opening when Lyr cut through a thorn, Nie Qi narrowed her eyes and slashed horizontally, aiming at Lyr’s chest.
His clothes were easily cut open, and a gash ran across his chest.
The blade was so fast that even the blood hadn’t had time to flow out yet.