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Within Rin's Bounded Field, Misaka and Mugino unleashed their full power against the enemy. Countless gems shot out like a rain of darts, while white electronic threads crisscrossed the space... Mo Xinming endured the assault from two area-of-effect attacks.

"This stuff is utterly useless!" Yet, facing such an onslaught, no trace of panic crossed his features. A thick aura enveloped his body. With a single punch, the myriad gems hurtling toward him instantly shattered, the resulting shockwaves blocked entirely by the very aura surrounding him.

"I absolutely adore beautiful young girls, hah! And two of them at once—what luck," Mo Xinming sneered with a vile smile, effortlessly evading Mugino's rapid-fire electronic streams.

"Damn it, don't look down on us!" Rin gritted her teeth, rage boiling within her, and commanded the Gem Empire to launch another barrage against Mo Xinming. But his speed was simply too great. Although every gem targeted him, only a small fraction managed to connect. Even those that did were smashed to pieces by him before they could achieve their intended effect.

"Why is this happening?" Rin grew increasingly anxious at the situation.

"Well, obviously. I saw your weakness crystal clear long ago. While this move can certainly trap people and is quite powerful, you cannot restrict my movement. An attack that can't land, no matter how strong, is useless," Mo Xinming stated calmly before suddenly accelerating, charging toward Rin like a missile.

But halfway through his dash, he rapidly retreated. The aura on his arm had vanished.

"What if we can hit you?" Shirai Kuroko murmured from the side, unleashing Atomic Collapse in a shotgun-like spread.

Mo Xinming moved at high velocity, the aura reappearing on his arm, and he scoffed, "Hmph, I see now. Your ability interferes with the state of matter to achieve destruction. Remarkable power. However, through understanding my own limits, I am already completely different from ordinary humans. Don't apply standard physical laws to me!"

With a roar, he punched out, instantly obliterating the scattered white electronic threads.

Not again? Atomic Collapse had no effect. Damn it.

Just like when she attacked Ling Yi, her ability failed to harm these Level 2 Walkers in any meaningful way. This baffled her. After all, it had worked somewhat against Shige, who was Level 3.

Of course, Mugino didn't know that its effect on Shige was due to an interaction with the force of Rules, and the application of Rules is singular in nature. For instance, holy water applied to a blade might kill an evil entity with a mere graze, but striking an ordinary person would do little more than draw blood.

Similarly, the effect on the force of Rules is singular; it only impacts that specific force, entirely independent of Mystery or raw power.

Furthermore, Shige had arrived in the world of A Certain Magical Index less than a day before, hadn't yet adapted to that world, and thus couldn't utilize his Mind's Eye power, leaving him naturally unable to perceive their weaknesses.

"Damn it... AAAAAAH!" Mugino roared, her Black Wings unfurling, feathers scattering as the Fallen Angel reappeared.

"This is... you..." Mo Xinming's expression suddenly changed, and he instinctively backed away. "Are you perhaps the Fallen Angel Shige was hunting? You were supposed to be dead."

"Shige? That name... I truly wish to kill him again. You know that guy too? I absolutely cannot let you go!" Hearing that name once more ignited hatred in Mugino's eyes as the Wings of Descent swept downward.

Simultaneously, Rin readjusted her assault, firing countless gems at Mo Xinming from every direction.

"What? Shige is dead? Impossible!" Mo Xinming suddenly became flustered. It was less the combined attacks of the two women that threw him off balance, and more the fear inspired by Mugino's words regarding Shige.

...

Outside, Misaka and Kousaka Taiha's battle had reached a stalemate. Their defenses were equal, their offensive power matched, and their fighting styles similar. It was proving difficult to declare a victor.

The one having the hardest time in this fight was Lin Luo. With his current strength, he could comfortably defeat a single Walker of his level, and perhaps barely manage two. But four... that meant an absolute, grueling struggle.

Lin Luo was already feeling severely strained. While his Creation Domain offered some utility, these individuals were still managing to breach his defenses and inflict meaningful damage.

"Damn it, he's clearly a Level 2, what kind of ability is this?" Li Dingzong voiced his confusion. Lin Luo's white mist appeared to them as a truly strange power. It wasn't like the power of the Mind's Eye, yet its defensive capability was astonishingly high. Even with the power of the Mind's Eye to see through it, he felt strangely constrained by his own strength.

He swung his greatsword, unleashing a furious torrent of sword energy meant to tear Lin Luo apart. A mass of white mist timely interposed itself before Lin Luo. After a brief standoff, the mist dispersed, but his attack failed to achieve its purpose.

"Soul Chasing Blade!" A streak of black light pierced through the gap just in time, aimed directly at Lin Luo's heart.

Zzzraak

Electricity sparked. Although the Twisted Prophecy Blade was a Mystical Weapon, it was ultimately metal. Under the electromagnetic influence, its trajectory shifted slightly, grazing past the upper right shoulder of Lin Luo instead.

"Go, Rock Demon!"

Just as he dodged that lethal strike, an immense pressure bore down from behind. A colossal stone behemoth, its mouth a black abyss, lunged to bite him.

The layers of white mist behind him were instantly devoured without a trace. Lin Luo instinctively pointed back, unleashing Atomic Collapse, which blasted the Rock Demon's head into fragments.

Damn it. The intensity of these guys' attacks is nowhere near that of the Heroic Spirits. Why can't my Creation block them?

Lin Luo was immensely perplexed. In terms of sheer offensive power, none of these four measured up to Gilgamesh, Saber, or the King of Conquerors. Yet, they seemed to possess an ability to counter his white mist, or perhaps a method to neutralize it—the inherent Mystery attached to their attacks was surprisingly high... If he had to rationalize it, it could only be attributed to the Codex of the Heart.

Is this the power of the Mind's Eye? What exactly is it? Why don't I possess it if we are both Level 2? What path have I actually walked?

Lin Luo was deeply confused, but this was clearly not the time for contemplation. A sharp energy struck from his right flank as a small figure shot forward like lightning.

"Hah!"

Lin Luo frowned deeply. Despite the opponent appearing to be a little girl, the pressure she exerted was the heaviest. His body instinctively dodged aside; the lightning-fast energy grazed his face. But it wasn't over. As she passed, the girl flicked her leg toward Lin Luo's abdomen.

Thump!

It was a solid, heavy blow. Lin Luo felt his internal energy surge violently, nearly causing him to vomit blood. Forcing himself to hold it down, he shot a Curse Bullet from his fingertip, but the girl had already quickly dodged back after delivering the kick. Lin Luo's attack missed.

Before Lin Luo could regain his footing, the other three immediately pressed their attack.

The momentary advantage he had maintained vanished instantly. Lin Luo was now completely on the defensive.

"No, I can't just stand here and watch!" Seeing Lin Luo trapped in this bitter struggle, Shokuhou was filled with anxiety and anger at her own uselessness. "If I can't get stronger, I won't be able to keep up with him. If I can't keep up... Absolutely not! I must break through my own limits too!"

Shokuhou pressed the internal 'switch' and unleashed a mental shock toward one of the figures in the battle. Originally, she had intended to use it on all four simultaneously, but the effect would have been negligible, and if she suffered a backlash, it would be four times the dosage—something she absolutely could not endure.

"Ugh..." Li Dingzong, who had been swinging his greatsword toward Lin Luo, suddenly felt a piercing pain in his head, and his movement instantly stiffened.

Any mistake in combat can lead to fatal consequences. This pause, before Li Dingzong could react, allowed an Iron Sand Sword to carve a deep gash across his chest, sending blood spurting out.

This was only because the other three were coordinating their efforts; otherwise, that strike might have killed him outright.

"It worked!" Shokuhou was ecstatic. She had assumed her ability wouldn't have much effect, but succeeding with a single blow was far beyond her expectations.

"Damn it, what are you doing?" Yun Feng, while controlling the Rock Demon, cursed at Li Dingzong.

"Someone used a mental attack on me. Damn it, it's that woman!" As he spoke, Li Dingzong's gaze swept around and instantly located Shokuhou nearby, his eyes filling with hatred. "You three hold that guy down; I'll take care of that woman first."

Saying that, he swung his greatsword and rapidly charged out of the melee toward Shokuhou.

Bad! Lin Luo's expression instantly changed, but he was already at a disadvantage and couldn't break free from the siege of the other three.

"Vile woman, this is for what you just did!" Li Dingzong flashed before Shokuhou like lightning. Amidst his massive roar, she, who had just launched the mental attack, immediately recoiled from the impact, spitting out a mouthful of blood. The sensation in her head was like an explosion, nearly causing her to faint.

No, I can't pass out. If I can't endure even this much pain, how can I ever get stronger... My mind is my only strength, and mental power is my only means of attack. If so, I must continuously break through my mental limits!

Shokuhou forced herself to snap out of the agonizing pain, regaining focus, only to see a greatsword cleaving down toward her.

"Damn you, stop it!" Lin Luo's pupils dilated violently. Using his willpower, he instantly manipulated the nearby iron sand into a shield in front of Shokuhou, and then—

Clang!

The greatsword struck the shield, sparking furiously.

"Got you!" Although he saved Shokuhou just in time, his distraction created a fatal opening in Lin Luo's defense. For Liu Qu, the assassin, such a vulnerability was the perfect opportunity for victory.

Liu Qu shouted in excitement, seizing the chance with precision. The Twisted Prophecy Blade stabbed lightning-fast into Lin Luo's chest.

"Ugh!" A coppery taste flooded Lin Luo's throat, and he couldn't help spitting out a mouthful of blood. Not only that, but the moment the blade pierced his body, he felt as if it were twisting and tearing at his internal organs—pain that rent his heart.

"AAAAAAAH!" In agony, Lin Luo fiercely grabbed the opponent's arm and smashed a punch towards his head.

Bang!

Liu Qu was instantly blasted away.

But the enemies weren't done. Beside him, the Rock Demon beast attacked again. To ensure effectiveness, Yun Feng did not issue a biting command, but instead—a charge! Relying on its massive bulk, it rammed directly into Lin Luo.

Boom!

The white mist shattered instantly. In that moment, Lin Luo felt as if he had been struck by a speeding truck; he was sent flying backward... If not for his status as a Dead Apostle, those two blows would have killed him.

Lin Luo bit his lip, forcing himself not to pass out. While mid-air, he painfully raised his hand and fired five electronic threads, obliterating half of the Rock Demon's body.

"HAAAH!"

At this moment, the enemy's assault resumed. The petite girl, taking advantage of Lin Luo's inability to move while airborne, flashed toward him like lightning and delivered a heavy punch to his abdomen.

"Wha... Ah!"

With his internal energy churning, Lin Luo truly felt his body was completely broken. Yet, even now, he didn't give up. Before the girl could attack again, he lightning-fast clamped his hand around her neck and unleashed an electrical current.

Zizizi...

"Aah!" The girl screamed, her fair skin instantly scorched black by the electricity, but this level of attack was clearly not enough to kill her. Gritting her teeth, she wrenched free from Lin Luo's grip and, instead of retreating, kicked out.

Teleportation.

His remaining consciousness was faint. In desperation, Lin Luo blinked out of existence just before the girl reached him, reappearing next to Shokuhou in the next instant... Li Dingzong was already swinging his sword down again; the Iron Sand wall was clearly insufficient to halt his attack.

The white mist rose once more, and in that crucial moment, it managed to block Li Dingzong's strike.

"You..." Li Dingzong's expression subtly shifted; he hadn't expected Lin Luo to reappear in front of him so quickly.

Simultaneously, around them, Rin's Bounded Field collapsed. She and Mugino knelt on the ground, gasping for breath, clearly having reached their limit. Across from them, Mo Xinming was missing one arm and, though battered, appeared to hold the upper hand.

On the other side, the confrontation between Misaka and Kousaka Taiha had also reached its breaking point. Ultimately, having only recently reached the Spirit Tier, she was at a disadvantage in terms of raw power and was currently taking the brunt of the assault.

In this battle, they were utterly routed.

"Hahaha, perfect timing! Die!" Seeing this, Li Dingzong laughed loudly, unable to conceal the joy within him, bringing his greatsword down with all his remaining strength.

Can't block it.

At this moment, Lin Luo's power was nearly depleted, and his consciousness was on the verge of collapse. Activating the force of Rules only manifested a tiny wisp of white mist—utterly incapable of blocking the opponent's attack.

Despair. This was true despair.

Swish.

Amidst maniacal laughter, Li Dingzong's greatsword easily sliced through the white mist. But just as the blade tip was one centimeter from Lin Luo's head, a hand suddenly emerged from the shadow on the ground, clamping onto the greatsword like a vise.

It didn't budge an inch.

"Uh..." Li Dingzong froze instantly, looking down, his face draining of color as if he had seen a ghoul. "You... you are..."

"It's been a long time, everyone." A girl's head materialized from the shadows on the ground. She smiled cruelly, then instantly floated to the surface. Immense magical power surged from her hand, instantly pulverizing Li Dingzong into dust.

"Tch, trash," the girl sneered with contempt.

"Evangeline!" Lin Luo gasped out in disbelief.