The twisted version of Qingran grinned, a grotesque mirror of her past. It lips were scorched, hands dragging against the floating stone like broken claws.
"You already are me.." it rasped, voice dry and smoke-choked. "You're just pretending not to be."
The illusion lunged, but it didn't reach her.
Qingran's palm surged with azure light, and with a savage cry, she slammed her hand forward.
The flame didn't just burn the version, it devoured it.
"Akkkkkkkkkk"
The illusion screamed as it was consumed, its cries swallowed by a roaring inferno that seared across the broken sky, forcing even Boran to raise a hand to shield his eyes.
From the sidelines, Meng Nian grunted as the wind knocked dust and heat toward him. He crouched with Wei Sheng's corpse still cradled, keeping the body out of the blast.
"Remind me never to piss her off again.." he muttered.
Ruihuang didn't respond. His eyes were locked on Qingran, flicking constantly between her movements and Boran's shifting aura.
