Cheaters must be severely punished!

“Take off your clothes.

They’re soaked through.

Though I don’t mind starting like this either.”

“Mm.”

In the room, Xingyu sat on the bed.

Luo You stood motionless, expression blank.

The atmosphere was awkward.

Seeing Xingyu sit there with no resistance, no reaction—like a lifeless zombie—Luo You tossed a bath towel onto her head.

“Come on, at least act a little more lively.”

Luo You’s tone was full of dissatisfaction.

“Where’s your anger?

Where’s your fear?

Like this, I can’t even feel a sense of accomplishment!”

“This…”

“Forget it.

Go take a shower first, clean yourself up.

I’ll come back later.”

“When’s later?”

“When I’m at the top.”

Without another word, Luo You closed the door and left.

Right now, Xingyu stirred no desire in her.

This kind of thing was only fun when a magical girl was unwilling yet forced to comply,

or when she yielded reluctantly like a saintly lady being “gracious.”

Anything was better than Xingyu’s dead-eyed compliance.

She took the elevator up one floor.

The hotel corridor was unusually quiet.

Her own footsteps echoed clearly.

Stopping before the door to Room 8032, Luo You raised her hand.

Knock knock—

Inside came the faint sound of slippers scuffing the floor, followed by slow, unhurried footsteps.

The door opened.

Xingyue stood there in a bathrobe, blocking the doorway.

She smelled faintly fragrant, freshly showered,

her hair still styled in a dangerously alluring way.

“You’re late.”

Though she said it, there was no blame in her voice.

“Got caught up with something.”

Luo You’s voice sounded a little deeper than usual, her body inexplicably warm.

Seven years of searching,

seven years of hardship and storms—

all for this moment.

Tonight, she would dominate completely…

“You’re drenched. Want to shower first?”

“We could do it in the bathroom too.”

“Oh my, can’t wait to pounce on me?”

“That’s right.

I’m already looking forward to seeing you crying and calling me Daddy.”

Luo You’s fists tightened.

Tonight, she had no intention of using gentle methods.

She’d prepared only the heavy, brutal games.

The usual approach might bring pleasure and comfort.

The heavy-handed ones brought only fear.

Like Ji Yue, for example—

coated head to toe in honey and left to the ants for half an hour.

She probably never forgot that.

She kicked open the bathroom door and pointed inside.

“You—get in!”

“Alright, alright~~”

Xingyue walked in gladly, loosening her bathrobe,

turning her head back with a gaze so sultry it could be spun into silk.

Luo You followed, closing and locking the door,

radiating the dangerous aura of a predator.

“The rules?” Xingyue asked.

“Same as before—

I go first.

Fifteen minutes each,

two rounds apiece,

and if there’s still no winner,

we go into a no-rules free-for-all.”

“I think we should change who goes first.

At least decide by rock-paper-scissors?”

“No.” Luo You refused flatly.

“Ah… so if I got the first move, you’d lose without suspense?”

“That cheap provocation won’t work on me.”

Her answer, to Xingyue, sounded a little too forced.

Hmph~~ You really are wary of me—

Xingyue’s gaze seemed to say, trying to shake her resolve.

Luo You remained unmoved.

“Don’t bother.

Back in the Sea of Realms, I was merciful and gave you a second chance to duel me.

Otherwise, you and Xingyu would’ve both been taken down and thoroughly… refined.”

“Eh~~ really not possible?”

“No.

I go first.”

“Fine then…”

Xingyue gave up on the starting advantage,

settling for a fallback demand.

“Then I want a condition in compensation.”

“No.”

“This isn’t allowed, that isn’t allowed—aren’t you being greedy?”

She gave Luo You a mock-reproachful look.

“A cat that guards its food too jealously will be trained by its owner, you know.”

“Just say yes or no.

Either way, I can take what I want.”

That was the confidence of absolute strength.

Luo You straightened her chest proudly.

“Even if you get away today, your companions will pay the price.

For example, that Xingyu you saved—

I’m sure she’d love to have a one-on-one with me.”

“…Fine, you win.

We’ll do it your way.”

The bathrobe slipped loosely to the floor—

the signal that the match had begun.

Xingyue turned on the shower, steam curling around her,

softening the curves of her figure with a hazy allure.

She sat in the bathtub, opening her arms as if to welcome everything.

“So, how will you start?”

“……”

Luo You’s wariness rose.

She glanced around,

deep crimson power flaring—

her hair turned blood-red in an instant.

“Let me ask first…

you didn’t poison yourself or anything, did you?”

Xingyue froze, mid-preparation in the tub.

That was…

an unexpectedly bizarre angle.

“What on earth have you gone through to ask something like that?”

“None of your business.”

Back in the hot springs, Ji Yue had genuinely startled her.

A little caution was only reasonable.

“…I don’t know what you’ve experienced to make you say that,

but I have no need for such petty tricks.”

“Talking pretty big.

I think you’d be better off using tricks.”

“I’ll win with pure skill.”

“Oh? Confident, aren’t you.”

Luo You’s tongue slid slowly across her lips.

“Cheaters don’t have to lose a finger,

but you can’t just wring out a little water, call me Daddy, and pretend it never happened.”

Xingyue met her gaze without flinching.

“Then let’s see if you can catch me in the act.”

“Hmph!”

As if her fighting spirit had taken physical form,

Luo You’s clothes burst apart,

revealing skin so pale it hardly seemed human,

before she slid into the bathwater.

The dragon dives into the water.

At once, the steam thickened severalfold,

until only vague silhouettes were visible.

Two beautiful girls pressed close—

a perfect painting, a flawless moment.

But soon, something Lovecraftian crept into the scene.

“Hmm?”

Xingyue noticed it first.

In the misty room, a dozen writhing shadowy tentacles had appeared,

twisting, lashing wildly.

Luo You rose slowly from the water—

those tentacles emerging from the space behind her.

Up close, they weren’t tentacles at all,

but white coral branches, covered in fine hair-like tendrils.

“So you really are cheating, aren’t you?”

Luo You loomed over her, the coral moving at her will.

“My, my… got any proof?”

Xingyue’s breathing didn’t change in the slightest.

“Proof?

I let it slide last time,

but pulling the same trick twice?

Do you think I’m an idiot?

Unless you’re not human,

how could you have no reaction at all to my attack?”

“Maybe you’re just bad at it.”

That hit a nerve—

blood rushed to Luo You’s head,

and the Spirit-Coral of Null twisted even more violently.

“Whether it’s true or not,

let’s compare before and after.

Let’s see if you can keep that poker face of yours.”

“Heh…

If you can’t catch me after comparing,

you’ll have to—mmph—”

“Ah-ha! I knew it!”

Luo You laughed triumphantly.

“Clench your teeth.

You’re supposed to be the pride of the Magical Alliance—

show some backbone worthy of the First Seat!”

“The world that’s coming next…

is going to hurt.”