Immediately after, Silvia’s magic circuits, like a breath held for far too long, began to greedily devour and expel the magical energy within a ten-mile radius. Even the elemental spells still locked in fierce clashes—fireballs, ice shards, and thunderbolts—defied all logic, veering sharply to converge upon him, trailing magnificent plumes of light. They were consumed as ‘nourishment,’ dissolving and breaking down into primordial magic… which then surged into his long-parched magic circuits.
This spectacle left the border magical girls utterly dumbfounded. At the three corners of the battlefield, the Beyond-Specials had already anticipated Zhennu Yibai’s arrival, knowing he would be deployed to atone for his past transgressions through meritorious service. What truly astonished them, however, was that the official records classified Zhennu Yibai as merely Special-grade in strength. Even though Lingguang Yixian had previously submitted combat reports detailing how, after his transformation into a man, his magical power had inexplicably multiplied twentyfold, this current display was far more immense, surpassing even the Beyond-Specials. Surely, such power rivaled that of a Vice-President?
The border magical girls stirred with a flurry of commotion. They recognized him—that man was none other than Zhennu Yibai! The magical aura illuminated Silvia’s form, revealing the masculine contours sharply defined by his black and white prison uniform. Whispers erupted among them, a wave of shock, anger, and suspicion rippling through their ranks.
“How could Tanhua City Prison possibly send a man to the border? This isn’t atonement; it’s practically a chance for exile…”
Just then, the woman in the green dress unfurled an emerald barrier, shielding them from the fortress’s relentless artillery. Her voice, infused with magic, sliced through the swirling smoke, resonating clearly across the entire battlefield:
“Zhennu Yibai, I trust you were made aware of your mission before your arrival. Monan Fortress has fallen; we require your assistance to reclaim it, to earn your redemption…”
“This is your sole opportunity. Should you aid us, the Association pledges to reopen and re-examine your case…”
Before her words could fully settle, Ling Qinghe’s light laughter drifted down from the fortress’s summit, a clear ‘dissenting note’ in the air:
“Zhennu Yibai, do you truly still believe the Association’s empty promises? No, perhaps I should say, no one in the Iris Kingdom should trust them. You defended Tanhua City for countless years, only to be imprisoned and reviled for your gender…”
“Therefore, Zhennu Yibai, strike them down and cast your lot with the Witch Coven… The outside world, unlike this one, will not despise you simply for being a man…”
Yet, from the ranks of the border magical girl army, a hovering camera burst through the haze of smoke, its lens locking onto Silvia. A war correspondent, impeccably dressed, held aloft a broadcasting device and a camera.
“Zhennu Yibai, do not succumb to the witch’s temptations. As long as you assist us in reclaiming Monan Fortress, you shall remain a hero… The Iris Kingdom’s broadcast television stations are now live-streaming this moment; please, do not disappoint the countless citizens watching…”
Countless communication devices glowed with a soft blue light, projecting his image onto the light screens in thousands of homes across the land.
Meanwhile, atop the fortress, Xia Naxin’s heart pounded with urgency. Just as she moved to intervene, Ling Qinghe gently held her back.
“At this juncture, it is Zhennu Yibai’s choice alone to make…”
****
Stepping out of the snow pit, Silvia inhaled a deep breath of crisp air. He had long since lost the will to live, and his forced deployment to the border was merely an act of desperation. Perhaps the Association merely sought to extract every last drop of his remaining utility. Thus, a silent question echoed in Silvia’s heart: what did he truly desire? The answer was death. He had long lost the dignity to continue living. The Iris Kingdom had no place for men, and what did it matter if he had once been the celebrated Zhennu Yibai, admired by all?
Yet, a new dilemma arose: how should he meet his end? Should he take his own life, or… burn himself out entirely, or perhaps abandon all resistance and fall by the hands of his former comrades, or perish at the hands of the witches he had battled for years, sacrificing himself for the Iris Kingdom?
After a protracted internal struggle, Silvia reached a conclusion. He turned, his gaze falling upon Monan Fortress, specifically upon a familiar face. ‘Professor Ling Qinghe?’ he mused. The smile on her face subtly overlapped with the visage of the Great Witch He. It was then that Silvia finally realized: Professor Ling Qinghe… was indeed the Great Witch He. Despite this revelation, his heart remained undisturbed, a strange tranquility settling within him as the truth became clear. And then there was Xia Naxin, standing beside the Great Witch He. This, too, spoke volumes, suggesting she had broken her own solemn vow. The promise… never to commit evil… Silvia’s expression remained utterly indifferent.
“Hmph, I will reclaim Monan Fortress…”
In truth, however, Silvia had already resolved to die, but before his demise, there was one final matter he needed to ‘settle’.
The battle was poised to erupt. Silvia moved, and with each deliberate step he took, the wind grew increasingly fierce, sweeping around him. A blizzard descended upon the path, intensifying rapidly, and the snowfield, previously scarred bare by artillery, began to accumulate fresh, spreading traces of snow.
With a soft cry of ‘Freeze,’ Silvia unleashed his power. A torrent of magical energy instantly enveloped a ten-mile radius, and this time, time-based magic brought all things to a standstill. Apart from the three Beyond-Specials, everyone—be it the border witches, Ling Cheyin, or the eleven other witches who had merely been observing—was frozen in place, utterly unable to move. Their eyes, however, could still shift, their vision unimpaired. Naturally, Ling Qinghe and Xia Naxin remained unaffected; each possessed unique capabilities.
Silvia’s objective had been singular from the very beginning. He transformed into a streak of light, surging directly towards Ling Qinghe atop Monan Fortress.
At that instant, Xia Naxin gasped, about to cry out a warning, but Silvia’s piercing glare, even through the energy barrier, held her utterly captive, unable to move. It was then that Xia Naxin understood: she hadn’t been frozen because Silvia had intentionally spared her. Observing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Ling Qinghe’s eyes, quickly replaced by her usual composed smile.
“It seems… this is your chosen path?”
“It was you… all of it was you!” Silvia roared, his voice laced with fury. “Had I not fallen for your deceitful words, how could I have ended up in such a predicament? Today, before I draw my last breath, I shall drag you down with me…”
His magic surged, coalescing into his right fist. This was a primal, visceral strike, devoid of elaborate flair, fueled solely by the raw power of anger and resentment, augmented by magic that transcended even the ‘Beyond-Special’ grade. Ling Qinghe neither flinched nor dodged, standing with her hands clasped behind her back, observing him calmly through the energy barrier, a trace of admiration even flickering in her eyes.
“Heh heh~ Such a magnitude of magical power… you truly haven’t disappointed me.”
In the very next moment, the punch descended, its impact echoing across the heavens, a blinding flash of light erupting as he truly shattered the energy barrier, lunging directly at the Great Witch He. Amidst the swirling smoke, no one could discern the events unfolding within. All that reached their ears were the deafening blasts, punctuated by Silvia’s enraged roars and Ling Qinghe’s faint laughter. As the smoke slowly dissipated, revealing the fortress spire cracked by the sheer force of the punch, a sight emerged: Silvia, kneeling on the ground, a triumphant, almost grim, smile playing on his lips. His blow had pierced through Ling Qinghe’s chest. In turn, the blade clutched in Ling Qinghe’s hand had likewise plunged into his heart. They remained locked in this grim tableau, neither releasing their hold, neither willing to be the first to fall.
“This… is for the best…” Silvia murmured to himself, gazing at Ling Qinghe, whose heart he had just shattered with a single punch. He was certain this was her true form, beyond any doubt. Consequently, he relinquished his magical defenses, allowing his damaged heart to bleed freely as his consciousness steadily dimmed. He had achieved his ‘revenge’ before death, ensuring that this betrayer would pay for her deeds. In the fleeting moment before unconsciousness claimed him, he perceived a flicker of complex emotion in Ling Qinghe’s eyes. Was it regret, relief, or something else entirely? But by then, none of it truly mattered anymore.
Yet, a strange scene unfolded: Ling Qinghe merely smiled, calling out Xia Naxin’s name. At this, Xia Naxin had no choice but to retract her ‘Inner World Reflecting Reality’ domain. Ling Qinghe’s body, astonishingly, was dislocated. Silvia’s punch had struck the chest of a mere simulacrum—a ‘pseudo-person’ formed by countless overlapping magical projections of the Great Witch He. The true Ling Qinghe stood calmly to the side, as if nothing had happened.
Witnessing this, Silvia let out a self-mocking, relieved laugh. ‘Ah, Xia Naxin…’ he thought. Consumed by rage, he hadn’t accounted for Xia Naxin, nor the variable of the Inner World. “How frustrating, yet… impulsive…” His voice was weak, devoid of anger towards Xia Naxin. After all, she still loathed him, didn’t she? Helping the Great Witch He was only natural.
As the time-stopping magic dissipated, the border magical girl army regained their mobility. They stared at the scene on the high platform, utterly stunned. Zhennu Yibai had been defeated just like that? How had he become so reckless after turning into a man? What was the difference between this and rushing to his death? In fact, Silvia had indeed gone to his ‘death,’ possessing immense magical power but lacking the will to fight.
****
Just as Silvia prepared to close his eyes and ‘sleep forever,’ Ling Qinghe knelt beside him, whispering into his ear:
“Deep down… you still wish to live, don’t you?”
Silvia remained unmoved. No one cared about him anymore; what was the point of living? But Ling Qinghe merely chuckled, then spoke, tempting him further:
“What if I told you… my wicked forbidden art could help you transform into a girl? Would you still wish to die then?”
At that moment, Xia Naxin, trembling, stepped forward and gently stroked Silvia’s chest, where the blade had pierced him. She swiftly used her telekinesis to carefully extract the blade and staunch the bleeding. Fortunately, there was no severe injury. The question remained, however: did Silvia truly possess the will to live?
Ling Qinghe looked at Silvia, whose heart was consumed by a desire for death. She knew how to rekindle his will to live. With things having come to this, she first glanced down at the border army pressing in below. Following a series of commands, Monan Fortress’s attack systems gradually shut down, and all energy was redirected into the pale golden energy shield. The next moment, countless elemental spells struck, causing the shield to ripple finely under the immense pressure, humming loudly. It wouldn’t hold for long. Ling Qinghe needed this brief respite to breach the defenses of the man so intent on dying.