The Strongest Stance Isn't the Bird Tribe, But Being With Big Sister (First Update, Seeking Votes) : It’s the last day of double votes, please check your ticket stashes to see if you have any monthly tickets left. If you do, please remember to cast them! After twelve o'clock tomorrow, the double bonus will be gone, which would be a huge waste.

…… It had to be said, Evangeline’s Time House was an incredibly convenient and useful place. Not only could it stretch one hour into a full day, but it could also simulate a space of just a few inches into boundless infinity. Looking out from around the castle, there were snowy mountains, deserts, jungles, waterfalls, and oceans stretching as far as the eye could see.

As the saying goes, as vast as your heart is, so is your world… The Time House truly is an essential item for travel, whether staying at home or journeying far away. With a swish, the moment Lin Luo’s kick sent her flying, Setsuna instantly revealed the power she had hidden all along: a pair of white wings, just like an angel's. A gentle flap sent her soaring high into the sky.

This was her transformation into the Bird Tribe. Although she called herself part of the Crow Clan… are there white crows in this world? How strange.

The shimmering Light of Fantasy instantly arrived before Setsuna. The young girl’s expression shifted slightly as she rapidly beat her wings and retreated. “Hiding won’t do you any good,” the voice from the other side made Setsuna’s heart clench.

Then she saw those few white spheres of light instantly multiply into dozens, rushing toward her at incredible speed. Moreover, judging by the trend, they seemed capable of further division and proliferation. Not good!

Setsuna cursed inwardly. She had witnessed Lin Luo’s Light of Fantasy back in Kyoto. At that time, this single move was enough to completely defeat all of them, yet the white-haired youth who used it could not be defeated.

This was a light of annihilation that was both beautiful and ruthless. Without a shred of hesitation, Setsuna’s Yūfū (Evening Wind) flashed out like lightning. This was the strongest profound art she could unleash in her human form—the Hundred-Bloom Cherry Blossom Slash!

Of course, now transformed into her Bird Tribe form, this move was even more potent. The wind blades coiled like golden swords severing the ocean, instantly slicing all the light orbs in half. Success?

No… that’s not right! Although she seemed to have achieved a good result, Setsuna felt that something was wrong. How strong was Lin Luo’s Light of Fantasy?

It could even incorporate the strongest magma-based magic used by the white-haired youth. How could such an abnormal, almost illegal move be cut down by her single sword strike? Just then, she suddenly saw the dozens of halves of the light orbs flickering with an eerie glow, as if… they were about to explode?!

This is… Dreadful! Setsuna’s expression instantly changed drastically, and a feeling of terror gripped her heart. But by this time, she was surrounded on all sides by the light orbs; escape was impossible.

Boom! Boom! Boom!!!

What followed was a violent explosion. The resulting shockwave from the blast spread out, reaching the courtyard a hundred meters away. Even the tables and chairs trembled slightly, but Setsuna did not escape the explosion; she was completely engulfed.

“How cruel. With an attack like that, will that little girl from the Shinmei Style truly not die?” Al watched the explosion in the sky and smiled faintly. “Hmph!” Evangeline scoffed, “I’m quite interested in Setsuna.

It would be a pity if she died.” “I really hope someone dies,” Chacha Rei giggled from the sofa. In the sky, a moment later, the smoke from the explosion gradually dispersed, revealing… the young girl, enveloped by white wings, kneeling with her hands forming a mudra. Beside her was a transparent, pyramid-shaped light barrier.

This barrier was visibly flickering and swaying, seeming on the verge of collapse at any moment, yet her body had sustained no damage from the explosion whatsoever. This was the absolute defense from the Shinmei Style’s anti-magic tactics: the Four Heavens Barrier—Dokko Purgatory! At the critical moment just before the explosion, Setsuna had managed to deploy this technique, barely withstanding that terrifying assault.

Otherwise, even if she didn’t die, she would have been seriously wounded. “Remarkable, you actually blocked it,” Lin Luo floated in mid-air, a look of approval in his eyes. Although he had slightly controlled the force, in his original calculation, Setsuna should not have been able to block that attack, or at least sustain some injury.

“But the next part won't be so easy. I will attack with the intent to kill you. If you don't want that to happen, revert to your human form and leave here.

Of course, I will no longer train you afterward. If you wish to become stronger, then you must embrace the resolve of death and struggle beneath my attacks. Do you… have that resolve?” Lin Luo pointed a finger at the young girl, his icy tone matching his cold expression, as a heavy killing intent radiated from him.

He was serious! Setsuna trembled violently. Both the previous attack and Lin Luo’s expression, which she had never seen before, indicated that the opponent she faced was about to get serious!

To be honest, Setsuna was terrified. That was natural; how could she not be afraid? The person before her was not someone her level could contend with.

Objectively speaking, if he intended to inflict even a slight fatal blow, it was unknown if she could last even a second. She will die! She will die!

She will truly die! Shrouded in that bone-chilling cold, Setsuna felt a profound fear, an instinct emanating from life itself. Deep within her heart, she screamed: Do not face that monster!

Do not accept that monster's challenge, or else… she will die! But! “I have made my resolve.

Please attack!” No matter how much fear gnawed at her heart, no matter how much she wanted to retreat, Setsuna still raised the sword in her hands. Even though her arms and legs were trembling, her face remained filled with determination. No matter what, she wanted to become stronger, because… that was the sole reason for her existence here!

“Very good, then I shall begin.” Lin Luo grinned, unleashing the Light of Fantasy once more, while simultaneously rushing forward rapidly himself. In the blink of an eye, he appeared before Setsuna and threw a punch. Kill Setsuna?

That was, of course, a lie. No matter how cruel the training, he would never kill the young girl before him. Even if Setsuna were willing, he couldn't bear to do it.

Furthermore, with his power, controlling the force to result in injury rather than death was easy, so saying he intended to kill her was just bluffing. However, without using such words to provoke Setsuna, this would only be an ordinary training match for her. To become stronger, one must pay a corresponding price.

Only by facing death directly, embracing the resolve to fight for survival after staking everything, could there be a chance to grow stronger. Setsuna, possessing the blood of both the Bird Tribe and humanity, held immense potential. Coupled with her strength at such a young age, her aptitude was exceptional.

If she followed the conventional training path, even after decades, reaching the world-class level might not be impossible. But! No matter how high her aptitude and potential, she could never surpass the Host of the World Heart.

To keep up with Mokona, the world-class level was far from enough; she needed to be above that, demanding far greater effort. To become stronger, she needed to transcend death! Therefore, her training could not be ordinary; it required… a life-and-death battle!

Bang! Facing Lin Luo’s attack, Setsuna instinctively reached out to defend. His fist struck her arm, producing a violent impact sound.

The young girl cried out in pain and was sent flying backward. “Mere defense will bring no change. Is your sword merely for show?!” Lin Luo roared, reappearing before the girl and kicking her in the abdomen.

The young girl was sent flying again. Two successive heavy blows left her nearly stunned, but this level of attack was clearly not yet at her limit. Hearing Lin Luo’s words, a resolute light flashed in Setsuna’s eyes.

Forcing down the pain, she stared directly at the charging enemy. That’s right, continuing like this is useless. Since she no longer cared about death, she had no reason to fear even the strongest enemy.

It was time to display my ultimate power right here! “Shinmei Style Profound Art…” The young girl gripped her sword with both hands, standing astride the void. The expression on her face turned composed and calm in this instant.

Brilliant electricity flashed along the blade, and then she slashed down fiercely— “…Grand Thunder Sword!” Boom!!! Like lightning descending, the strike she released was in no way inferior to Mikoto’s Heavenly Thunder Summoning. The enormous pillar of thunder directly struck the rapidly charging Lin Luo, completely engulfing him.

This was her strongest skill, only available in this state. “A decent attack, but it still needs strengthening.” Lin Luo emerged from the lightning unscathed. He was holding a long sword in his hand, and he slashed down, the impact wave tearing the air rushing towards Setsuna.

Setsuna remained fearless, turning her blade and unleashing another swing. “Shinmei Style Decisive Battle Profound Art—True Lightning Sword!” A massive sphere of pure light, twenty meters in diameter, erupted from her sword, meeting the incoming shockwave. Then, with a boom, they completely scattered.

The collision of the two forces stirred up a colossal aura. But Setsuna advanced by retreating. Using the momentum, she rushed forward at maximum speed, piercing through the smoke to appear directly in front of Lin Luo, and then… “Demon-Slaying Sword—Second Katana!” Chirrr!

A splash of blood appeared; Lin Luo’s hand had been struck. “Impressive.” This was a sincere compliment. Although Lin Luo had held back, he genuinely hadn't expected Setsuna to actually strike him in this state.

Even though the cut was less than three centimeters, not enough to make him even frown, managing to touch him was quite rare, but! “That wasn’t the Second Katana!” Lin Luo threw a punch, sending Setsuna flying backward, and roared, “Didn’t I already tell you? The name of this move is… Today is the Heart-Pounding Anniversary with Big Sister!” “Huh?” Setsuna froze, completely thrown off balance by such words during such a serious battle.

“Isn’t it?” Lin Luo smiled at her. “Your sword exists for your Big Sister. Then integrate Big Sister into your swordsmanship.

You are not fighting me alone; you are fighting with your Big Sister. If that’s the case, can you afford to lose?” “This…” Setsuna’s expression changed. Integrating Big Sister into her swordsmanship was something she had never considered, but… if that were truly the case, then as long as she was with Big Sister, she absolutely had to win!

“I understand, Teacher Lin Luo.” Realizing this, Setsuna broke into a smile and then took her stance. “Integrating Big Sister into my swordsmanship, this move is called… Today is the Anniversary of Becoming One with Big Sister—Limited Edition!” White light roared forth. Setsuna… Confidence at one million percent!