If Misaka and Rin’s scroll worlds were complete messes, then Mugino’s was relatively normal... She currently found herself in a sky, enveloped entirely by black mist, starless and moonless.

This environment felt familiar yet strange to Mugino. Strange because she had never encountered such a place before; familiar because the memories of this environment resided within her mind.

“I see. So this is the trial I must face...” Mugino surveyed her surroundings for a moment, a wry smile touching her lips—whether from mockery or something else, she couldn't tell. Then, her gaze fixed straight ahead. “If I want to get out alive, I have to defeat you, right? Sieg.”

About a hundred meters directly in front of her, a colossal Bone Dragon flew in the air. On the dragon's broad spine sat a gaunt, withered man cloaked in gray robes. Tides of black mist churned behind the man, and within that mist wailed countless spirits resembling sorrowful skeletons, emitting bone-chilling sounds.

This man was none other than Sieg, the LV3 Walker, owner of the Book of Evil Spirits who had once driven the original host of the Fallen Heart to death and was subsequently annihilated by Lin Luo in the A Certain Magical Index world.

And this location was precisely where he had fought the original host of the Fallen Heart back then.

“As expected, the score between us must finally be settled by my own hand. Otherwise, she will probably never acknowledge me,” Mugino suddenly laughed, black feathers scattering as the Wings of the Fallen Angel unfurled.

“Then... die once more for me, Sieg.”

As she spoke, Mugino shot forward like a bolt of black lightning toward the enemy ahead.

...

“Oh my, oh my, this is quite the turn of events. I thought there might be some novelty, but in the end, it’s just as cliché as a plot from a third-rate novel...” Misaki Shokuhou spread her hands and sighed.

She was currently located inside a labyrinth, the surroundings flickering between light and shadow, giving off an aura of profound mystery. Standing before her was a girl, tall and slender, with long golden hair cascading over her shoulders. Slung over her shoulder was a satchel adorned with sexual patterns, and her limbs were clad in white lace gloves and stockings—in short, a golden-haired beauty exuding intellectual charm.

Shokuhou knew this girl, and she knew everything about her, right down to the highly private secrets of her erogenous zones. Why? Why else? Because the girl before her was her.

“I knew it. These strange trainings usually boil down to defeating oneself. But speaking of which, other me, how do you plan to fight me? If it's a mental attack, neither of us can touch the other, right?” Shokuhou asked the reflection of herself.

“That’s incorrect. I am far stronger than you,” the other Queen smiled faintly, then snapped her fingers lightly. Suddenly, a shuffling sound arose from the ground.

Shokuhou startled and instinctively looked down, her face immediately turning ashen. At her feet swarmed terrifying creatures like snakes, rats, and cockroaches.

“Ah!” Shokuhou cried out, involuntarily stepping backward. The moment her foot landed, her entire body shuddered violently because she felt herself stepping on something soft and long...

Shokuhou’s face went green. She dared not look down, instead closing her eyes like an ostrich... No, no, this couldn't be happening! If she were truly me, she couldn't possess this ability! Ugh, how terrifying! What is going on... Right, an illusion! It must be an illusion!

There’s nothing to fear. It’s an illusion. They are all fake, so there’s nothing to be afraid of, nothing...

“But... it’s still so scary! Help!” Shokuhou shrieked, turning around and fleeing for her life.

“Hahahaha...” Seeing her reaction, the other Queen doubled over, laughing heartily.

...

While Misaka and the other three were caught up in their unique battles, Lin Luo and Evangeline waited outside. Though they claimed to trust the girls, watching them remain unconscious for so long, their faces occasionally twitching with anger or fear, Lin Luo couldn't help but worry.

Evangeline glanced at him, the corner of her mouth curving into a teasing smile as she asked, “Worried, are we?”

“No,” Lin Luo replied defensively, not wanting to be mocked by this girl, speaking contrary to his true feelings.

Evangeline scoffed. “Hmph. Your anxiety and distress are written all over your face. Well, though I don’t exactly hate it.”

“...That sounds vaguely familiar,” Lin Luo frowned.

“Oh? There are others who enjoy watching little brats fret like me?” The ageless loli’s expression shifted to one of mild interest.

“No, I don't think so,” Lin Luo firmly shook his head.

“Speaking of which, can you stop pacing in front of me and just sit down? Even if you aren't tired, my eyes are weary just watching you,” Evangeline suddenly said, knitting her brows.

Lin Luo wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. Under the pressure of the loli's gaze, he obediently sat down opposite her.

“Since you’re so worried, stop focusing on them. I doubt they’ll wake up for at least three to five days. It would be better to distract yourself with something strange.”

“Something else?”

“This, you should find useful.” Evangeline flipped her wrist, and a golden book suddenly appeared in her hand—it was Li Dingzong's Warrior’s Tome. She tossed it to Lin Luo as if it were trash.

“The Heart Canon...” Lin Luo frowned slightly. As the name suggested, this was a skill book for the warrior class, focused, much like the Book of Evil Spirits, on self-cultivation.

“Absorb.” After looking at the Heart Canon for a moment, Lin Luo materialized his Book of Contract. Less than ten seconds later, the Warrior’s Tome was completely absorbed. Lin Luo then heard its notification chime: “Warrior’s Tome absorbed. Host has gained the skill—Battle Esoterica.”

As the cold notification faded, Lin Luo suddenly felt new knowledge fill his mind—details on sword forms, mastery of blade techniques... Unlike Mist Incarnation, which was an active skill Lin Luo had to deploy himself, Battle Esoterica was a passive skill similar to a mastery class, serving to enhance the contractor’s natural combat aptitude.

“So that’s how it is. Then...” Lin Luo’s eyes lit up, feeling eager to test it out.

He stood up from the ground, conjured the Sword of White Mist, and as he recalled the knowledge flooding his head, he thrust his sword forward in an instant.

Vwoom.

Hearing the sharp sound, Lin Luo felt as if he had pierced the wind itself.

“Oh, not bad. Looks quite useful,” Evangeline chuckled, a hint of admiration in her eyes.

“It’s certainly very useful,” Lin Luo nodded, feeling his close-combat ability had doubled at least.

“Then let’s spar. It’s boring anyway,” Evangeline stood up from the ground.

“I’d like that very much,” Lin Luo replied with a smile. Having just mastered a new ability, having Evangeline, a master of martial arts, as a sparring partner was naturally ideal.

“Hmph.” Evangeline flashed a toothy grin and shot up from the ground like lightning, her slender palm aimed directly at Lin Luo’s heart.

In the past, Lin Luo probably couldn't have blocked it, relying perhaps only on his rule power for defense. But now... he gently flicked his wrist outward, the edge of the Sword of White Mist already slicing towards Evangeline’s fair neck.

“Too slow.” As he spoke, Evangeline’s figure vanished from Lin Luo’s sight, reappearing behind him as if by teleportation. Her small feet whistled through the air as she kicked toward Lin Luo’s temple.

Sensing the air disturbance behind him, Lin Luo swung a sword backward without turning... Although both looked like they were trading lethal blows, there was no real danger involved. Not only was Lin Luo’s creation rule not highly offensive—it was questionable if it could even pierce Evangeline’s defense—but even Evangeline, with her top-tier close-combat skills, wouldn't be worthy of being called the strongest if she couldn't control the force of such light blows.

The fight ended after a minute, largely because Evangeline was holding back. Otherwise, with Lin Luo’s current strength, if Evangeline attacked at full power, she could probably instantly kill him with close combat alone... Of course, the current result was nothing to be proud of.

Lin Luo lay flat on his back, the Sword of White Mist in his hand having vanished. Evangeline was straddling his stomach, her slender hands pinning his arms in a spread-eagle position.

“This level isn’t enough to be fun,” the ageless loli giggled, suddenly leaning down, revealing a set of snow-white teeth and two vampire fangs. “As payment for being my sparring partner, you'll pay with your blood.”

Saying that, before Lin Luo could react, her small mouth clamped onto his shoulder. Her fangs pierced the skin, and crimson blood flowed along the fangs into her mouth, accompanied by loud slurping sounds.

“Mmm...” Lin Luo couldn't help but frown. It wasn't because of