Chapter 6: The Witch vs. the Sword Immortal

“Hmph, foolish swordsman, to dare challenge Me to a duel for your life—are you tired of living so long?”

In Liberty City’s central plaza, a chain of explosions erupted.
A raging storm, hurling sand and stone, swallowed the earth.
The so-called Emerald Witch Who Obstructed the Concert descended upon this ill-fated city destined for ruin.

The witch sat atop the dry fountain at the plaza’s center, claiming it as her newborn throne.
Her petite, alluring figure was like a venomous serpent slipping into one’s sleeve—injecting poison while offering a hymn of chaos and delirium to a world on the verge of hell.

A massive infernal sigil rose from the ground at the tolling of the bells, heralding the moment when the hourglass at the witch’s waist would run dry.

Facing her stood a blazing light.
A side-ponytailed girl in a cloak slowly drew the blade at her hip, her glare sharp as frost.

“Emerald Witch! Today, this Sword Immortal shall bring you to justice! Surrender without futile resistance, and prepare your neck for the blade!”

The witch sneered, raising two slender fingers in a mocking cross. 

“How laughable. Sword Immortal Xing… Xing-what, again?”

All eyes locked on the battle unfolding in the plaza.

Oh no. She forgot her lines.
We rehearsed this so many times, and this donkey-brain blanks at the key moment…

“Xinghui!” The girl opposite hissed under her breath.

“Ah, right, Xinghui! I—pft—no, We admire your courage. If you surrender and swear fealty to Us now, We shall allow you to join the glorious path of evolution, to become an immortal like Us.”

So awkward.
These lines were unbearable…
Even her big sister or third sister—real witches capable of destroying the world—had never said such bizarre things.
This was more like a scene straight from those novels she always read.

Real apocalypse witches rarely talked much.

“The noble will of the Sword Immortal will never consort with you! Starlight Sword Technique—Storm Thrust!”

The self-proclaimed Sword Immortal twisted her neck and drove her starlit holy sword forward, eyes burning with contempt and loathing for the witch.
This girl… Why does it look like she really wants to kill me? Hopefully she remembers this is just an act.

Linglyn raised her right hand, conjuring black void-fire to meet Xinghui’s blade.
She held back—enough to keep the clash dramatic, not enough to send Xinghui flying into orbit.

As expected, the two were blasted apart in a grand display, skidding back dozens of meters.
But by the sacred law of Lots of Smoke, No Actual Damage, neither had lost more than a scratch of HP.

Mm, this “Sword Immortal” seems kinda weak, Linglyn mused.
So it really was nonsense after all.

She reined in the cold void-fire at her fingertips, then flicked her wrist skyward.

“Behold—the stars shattering to dust~”

With a casual gesture, blazing meteors named Inchen ripped through the heavens, streaking down with ear-splitting roars.
Her silvery laughter rang like chimes, chasing the falling stars straight toward Xinghui’s position.

Of course, Linglyn carefully avoided any real collateral damage.
Only a handful of meteors, angled neatly away from Xinghui and the clusters of bystanders.

Xinghui darted between the fiery bombardments, her holy sword flashing as detonations thundered at her back.
The spectacle looked terrifying, yet Liberty Park’s titanium flooring barely suffered.
At worst, a few saplings in the greenbelt got scorched.

“Not bad—you can dodge. Rangers do have some skill after all.”

“The Emerald Witch of Doom is tough indeed… but luckily, my eyes are quick!”

“Seems I’ll have to stop holding back!”

They shouted in unison—an exchange of mutual “commercial flattery”—before charging head-on once again.

“Take my strongest strike—slice apart like butter!”

Xinghui’s gaze blazed, her holy sword thrusting straight at Linglyn’s heart.

“Such a shallow ranger. I thought you were someone dangerous, but it seems my evaluation drops you to… Tier 5.”

She twisted her waist gracefully.
Every furious stab of Xinghui’s storm thrusts missed by inches.
Her final wide swing was dodged with an extreme backbend that drew whistles of admiration from the crowd.

“Wait—family, aren’t we supposed to be cheering for the ranger? Why does everyone sound like they’re rooting for the witch?”

“Damn it, she dodged everything!” Xinghui snarled, retreating a few steps with clenched teeth.

“Then it’s Our turn. While you weren’t looking, we already sprinkled your body with flammable powder. With just the tiniest spark… kaboom~”

“No… no way! When did you—”

Before the words left her mouth, a blazing fireball erupted.
Heat waves ripped across the plaza.
In the infernal glow, the witch’s once-pure smile warped into something demonic and grotesque.

“What?! The ranger actually lost?!”

“Woc, if even the ranger can’t win, we’re doomed! Quick, write your wills!”

But just as everyone believed the battle was over, a shining blade pierced through Linglyn’s chest.
Out from the inferno stepped Xinghui, alive and triumphant, a smile of victory playing on her lips.

“No… it can’t be… How did you get behind Us…”

“You never expected it. I used rapid displacement to create afterimages, distracting you while slipping into your blind spot. It’s over, Emerald Witch.”

Bloodied, Linglyn clutched her chest and collapsed.
Xinghui caught her gently, pulling her into her arms.

“I’ll take you somewhere quiet to finish this. Wouldn’t want your corpse polluting the city.”

With that, she leapt to the rooftops, carrying the witch’s limp body toward the outskirts.

The plaza erupted in cheers.
Corks popped, crowds celebrating victory.

At Xinghui’s home.

“Scared me half to death! You acted way too real—I almost lost control and blasted you for real.”

Remembering that final sword strike, Linglyn still shuddered.
It was supposed to be an act, yet in that instant she truly thought she would die.
Perhaps her very genes recoiled from “justice triumphing over evil.”

“If we can’t fool our own people, how could we trick those old geezers at the Association? Besides, how could I ever cut down my savior for real?”

“But you did scare me! You owe me damages for emotional trauma!”

Linglyn puffed her cheeks, turning away with a huff so she wouldn’t have to see Xinghui’s grin.

“Alright, alright, don’t be mad. Worst case, we split the bounty fifty-fifty.”

The moment she heard bounty, Linglyn’s green eyes lit up like gold coins.

“Bounty?! Then what are we still doing here? A beautiful new life is waiting for us!”