Up in the sky, Fan Xinglou frowned as she gazed down at the two beams of light on the ground. At the very moment the light began to merge, her expression changed. For an instant, disbelief flashed across her face, and then…
Hahaha—!
Though the stage was in a vacuum, anyone who saw Fan Xinglou's exaggerated movements knew she was laughing. Laughing madly.
Even Zhao Hufeng, who had long been her disciple, had never seen such an expression on her face—nor felt the crushing pressure that followed!
I'll die!
Just her gaze alone made Zhao Hufeng feel as though his body had been pierced through, death looming over him.
Cold sweat dripped down his back. If he were the one standing on that stage right now, he would surely be killed by his master!
At that moment, he wished more than anything for the match to end. But his trembling body had completely lost the ability to move!
Boom—!
From the force of her aura alone, the barrier that protected the audience instantly crumbled to dust.
Yet just then, Fan Xinglou's hand flicked. The scattered talismans around her flew toward the arena's final layer of defense, forcing the surging pressure to remain confined within.
When the blinding light faded, Fan Xinglou's eyes locked firmly onto the figure emerging from within. The excitement blazing in her gaze was practically overflowing.
A woman with long violet-gold hair stepped out. Even though her body was covered from head to toe, her voluptuous, graceful curves could not be hidden. Her serpentine waist swayed, drawing a mesmerizing, tantalizing outline.
Her pink lips curved in a charming smile that tugged at every heart. Countless spectators felt their very souls stolen away, sitting frozen in their seats, forgetting even to cheer.
She was truly a peerless beauty.
And yet, there was something of Elise and Sylvia in her features—as though she were born from the union of both their strengths.
The woman glanced around, then at her own palm. Her eyes lit up—and then she activated a technique!
Sacred Speech!
"Extinguish!"
There was no sound. Normally, Sacred Speech could not be used in a vacuum—but miraculously, it had worked this time!
The vacuum vanished at once. Even the attack Fan Xinglou had been charging was wiped away by an unknown force.
"With this, those annoying things are gone!"
Her voice, completely at odds with her graceful and gentle appearance, instantly overturned the impression she gave.
"Only this suits someone as exquisitely beautiful as me!"
She spread her arms, staring up at the lights above, her face twisting into a fervent smile.
"Oho! Now this is amusing. So, who are you now?"
Fan Xinglou's petite form flickered, reappearing not far from the woman. Her tone was calm, but beneath her smile, the killing intent and battle hunger could not be hidden. She was clearly suppressing herself by sheer will.
"Me?"
The woman pointed to herself, then crossed her arms, pretending to think.
"Who am I really…?"
"Right now, I am neither Elise nor Sylvia. If I had to say, perhaps I am both?"
There was doubt in her words—it seemed even she herself was unsure.
"But one thing is certain!" She struck a cute V-sign pose and continued, "I was born from the fusion of Elise and Sylvia! That fact will never change!"
"Since I am their fusion, then my name should be this—cute, yet elegant!"
"Elyvia!"
"That is my name! Remember it well, you shameless little loli!"
"The grudge from just now—I'll pay it back in full!"
The breathtaking Elyvia declared her vengeance without hesitation, igniting the arena's atmosphere once more!
...
"Elise and Sylvia… actually fused?"
"She's so beautiful!"
"Can Strega abilities even do something like this?"
"For some reason, I suddenly feel so jealous!"
There was no denying it—at this moment, Elyvia was the focus of everyone's attention.
As the fusion of Elise and Sylvia, she embodied nearly all the advantages of both their appearances and temperaments! Sylvia was a rare songstress, Elise the Church's saintess. Yet upon Elyvia's form rested both Sylvia's noble elegance and Elise's gentle sanctity. If one had to put it into words… perhaps this was what they called "sacred and inviolable."
And right now, Elyvia was not wearing her eyepatch!
Elise wore it to prevent her eyes' power from being triggered inadvertently—but Elyvia was different. She seemed able to control that power perfectly. The exact details were unclear, but at least that was how it appeared.
Since she wore no eyepatch, the audience could see her alluring gaze broadcast on the screens. Without even using her eye ability, how many people would already lose themselves in her eyes?
In the Jie Long competitors' lounge—where Fan Xinglou had been earlier—the Chronotemis, Helga Lindwall, now sat. Her face bore both interest and a touch of astonishment as she watched the recording of Elyvia's birth.
"Never thought I'd see such a bizarre ability in this world, haha!"
As a top-ranked Strega who had lived more than fifty years, she had seen all manner of things. Fusion? Sorry—this she had never seen!
Helga, though not physically present in the Sirius Dome, could still feel the power radiating from Elyvia on stage. Power not the slightest bit weaker than her own. Perhaps even… stronger. Heh.
"This time, Fan Xinglou is in for it, haha!"
In the past, Fan Xinglou had always wanted to spar with her. Now, perhaps she would get to see Fan Xinglou getting beaten instead! With that thought, she quickly opened her personal terminal's recording function, determined to capture every moment of this scene.
Many others had the same idea. The existence born from the fusion of two Strega was unprecedented in the world. How would she fight? Could she bring something truly astonishing?
Everyone was waiting with that expectation.
...
"At first, this old lady thought it was just a decent meal. But you've truly exceeded expectations! In that case, this old lady won't be holding back!"
A flush of red ran across Fan Xinglou's face, her slender frame trembling.
That was… excitement!
In the next instant, a feral, fanatical grin was imprinted in Elyvia's eyes.
The battle was about to erupt!
The audience was utterly silent, stunned, staring in disbelief.
A clash as if the heavens and earth themselves were crumbling!
The two had only just begun to fight at close range, and already the commotion was on this scale?
Fan Xinglou's kick streaked toward Elyvia's face, while Elyvia swung her fist without hesitation to meet it head-on!
Boom—!
The impact of fist against foot resounded louder than even the roar when Elise had summoned a meteor earlier!
The shockwave blasted outward in an instant. The ground beneath them shattered completely, obliterated by the sheer force of the collision!
The stage, already reduced to rubble from the battles before, now suffered an even harsher fate from their clash.
Desolate could hardly describe it anymore.