What is the most potent weapon in this world? Well, from a scientific worldview, it is undoubtedly a strategic-level weapon of mass destruction, like a nuclear bomb. Its most terrifying aspect isn't the blast force, but the nuclear radiation. When people say a nuclear bomb can destroy the world, it's because of its radiation; any place enveloped by its fallout becomes an absolute dead zone for life.

Then there are biological and chemical weapons, things akin to artificial plagues. What makes people dread them isn't just their inherent "toxicity," but their capacity for spread and infection—in some ways, they are even more terrifying than nuclear bombs.

Although Shōten is a girl utterly lacking in physical strength, the kind of person any ordinary man could easily push over were it not for the presence of her Instinctive Suppression, Lin Luo viewed her existence as a strategic-level weapon of mass destruction, even if she possessed neither the suppression nor was she merely an Angel Projection.

To Lin Luo, the "useless" Aoko and Touko, who had lost all their magic power, didn't take him seriously. Shōten was no different. With their insight, how could they not see that this delicate girl lacked not just magic power, but even a sliver of strength—she was even weaker than Lin Luo.

And yet, Lin Luo expected such a girl, one worse than a mere five-loser in a fight, to teach them a lesson? The thought of this fantasy coming true was a million years too early!

Consequently, Aoko and Touko offered no defense whatsoever, simply standing there with cold smiles, watching Lin Luo and Shōten, eager to see what kind of antic they were putting on.

A guitar?

Seeing Shōten pull out a guitar, and then hearing Lin Luo tell her to play it, Aoko and Touko were completely bewildered. Wasn't this supposed to be a lesson? What did playing a guitar have to do with it?

Not only they were confused, but the onlookers like Tohno Akihaba also wore expressions of utter doubt.

"Could it be a calming melody?" Suddenly, Kohaku offered a suggestion that seemed scientifically sound.

Upon hearing this, everyone understood. Indeed, music is said to cultivate one's temperament. Intense music excites, while gentle music relaxes. Lin Luo using music to stop the bickering between Aoko and Touko seemed to align with common sense.

"That makes sense," Tohno Akihaba nodded. She was no stranger to music; in fact, she was intimately familiar with it, especially the violin, in which she possessed considerable mastery. Whenever she felt down in the past, playing the violin and listening to music always helped her relax naturally.

Looking at the girl named Shōten, she was not only refreshingly beautiful but possessed an otherworldly, refined aura. It seemed likely she would be skilled at music that calms the soul.

Tohno Akihaba secretly resolved to discuss music with her later.

Aoko and Touko naturally heard their conversation, and their doubts vanished. However, they remained unconvinced by Lin Luo's method... The idea that mere music could quell their fury seemed far too naive.

So, as Shōten began to play the guitar, the two just smiled without speaking.

Shōten had initially been scared. Those two sisters had exuded an intimidating aura earlier; she had never seen such fierce people and worried she might get hit. But seeing everyone looking patient and smiling, waiting for her divine performance, she instantly relaxed.

"Then I'll play now," she said, already stretching her fingers toward the strings... At this moment, Aoko and Touko were still smiling silently, Tohno Akihaba was waiting for the masterpiece, Kurogiri Senka was preparing to listen attentively, Kuonji Arisu’s novel had just reached a healing part, Ryougi Shiki wasn't looking away, and Kohaku and Hisui were bringing tea for everyone.

But the very next moment, when Shōten’s fingers plucked the first note...

"%%!!!!"

No one knew what kind of sound that was, nor did anyone know what it took to coax such a soul-shattering note from an ordinary guitar. Regardless, when Shōten’s divine music descended, the previously cloudless sky seemed to be instantly shrouded in darkness, the peaceful world appeared to undergo a baptism of destruction, and even upright moral values seemed to be twisted by something inexplicable.

Aoko and Touko, who had been smiling silently, had their expressions drastically change. Their knees buckled, and they collapsed to the ground, clutching their ears; Tohno Akihaba, who had been waiting for the masterpiece, directly spat out a mouthful of blood, her ashen face suggesting she was near death; Kurogiri Senka, who had been listening carefully, found her mind blank, her consciousness on the verge of collapse; Kuonji Arisu, reading her healing novel, suddenly saw the "three-chapter rule"—the heartwarming plot abruptly turned bizarre, and she frantically tore apart the book in her hands; Ryougi Shiki, who hadn't looked away, felt her eyes swim, unable to see the Lines of Death any longer; as for Kohaku and Hisui, who were holding tea, they simply dropped, twitching on the ground like frogs that had touched an electric current...

The only ones remaining unharmed in the field were Lin Luo and Shōten. Lin Luo was safe because he had already half-closed his hearing, rendering him immune to blades, fire, and all poisons; Shōten was immersed in her divine music, plucking cheerfully with her eyes closed, utterly oblivious to the external world... She played lightly, but the notes were heavy; she played slowly, but the sound traveled fast; she played happily, yet the surroundings were crumbling.

Look at the rat hiding ten meters away in the corner—after hearing Shōten’s divine music, it dropped dead within a second, stiff as iron; look at the stray dog passing by the gate—when the music reached its ears, it was bleeding from all seven orifices; look at the birds flying overhead—struck by the divine melody, they plummeted from the sky one by one; look at the small fish happily swimming in the pond—the sound waves rippled the water, and they were floating belly-up, their souls departed to hell...

Once Shōten’s divine music erupted, life was devastated, and all things perished wherever the notes passed.

Within several li in that area, it became a dead zone!

"Stop, please stop..." As a Magus, Shiki Aozaki was now prostrate on the ground, her hands digging into the dirt. Her almost contorted face showed her current agony. She wanted to stop Shōten from playing, but she couldn't even utter a sound now.

"Ugh!!" Touko Aozaki, the foremost Master Magician, dry-heaved like a woman in labor, her fingers clamped around her throat. She wanted to kill her own body, but lacked the strength even for self-destruction.

Tohno Akihaba, whose demonic bloodline, once fully awakened, could rival the Twenty-Seven Ancestors, had collapsed onto the ground, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Her breathing was shallow.

Kuonji Arisu, the most orthodox Witch, adept at all forms of sorcery and curses, clutched her chest, trying to weave hand seals to cast a spell, but the incantations for curses had vanished from her mind.

Ryougi Shiki, who was rumored to be able to kill even gods, found her dizzy eyes seeing nothing but darkness. She wanted to sever this darkness, but her hands fumbled around blindly, unable to locate where her dagger was, finally falling to the ground with a thud.

The weakest, Kurogiri Senka, along with Kohaku and Hisui, didn't even have the impulse to resist; their consciousness, utterly blurred, made them feel as if they were trapped in hell.

No battle, no power-up, no Demon Lord, and certainly no protagonist halo was needed. Merely one divine song from Shōten, and in less than half a minute, the Allied Force had completely collapsed.

Lin Luo watched the scene, the corners of his mouth twitching. Although he knew Shōten's guitar playing was terrifying, he hadn't expected it to cause such massive casualties. Thinking about how he had managed to quickly block her after hearing just the first note, he considered himself incredibly lucky.

It must be said, UOs are truly world-ending level entities!

Lin Luo felt a flood of emotion, but he also knew that if Shōten continued playing, people might actually die. At least Kurogiri Senka and the maid sisters were close to their limit. He quickly reached out and gently placed his hand on Shōten's arm, stopping her.

Immersed in her music, Shōten was abruptly interrupted, the mood she had just built dissolving. She looked displeased and grumbled, "What are you doing?"

"Look around you," Lin Luo weakly gestured toward the people collapsed on the ground.

"Ah! What happened to everyone?" Noticing that these people, who had been so full of life, now looked close to death, Shōten was greatly startled.

Lin Luo didn't bother commenting on Shōten's naiveté. He walked a few steps forward, squatted down, and gently patted Aoko and Touko’s cheeks, grinning smugly, "How about it? Now you know the horror of crossing me, right?"

As the divine music stopped, Aoko and Touko’s consciousness and strength gradually returned. Faced with Lin Luo’s arrogant demeanor, both felt a surge of rage, but before they could erupt, Lin Luo pulled Shōten close. Seeing her beautiful face, their expressions changed instantly, and fear flashed in their eyes; they dared not utter another word.

They were strong, that was true, but no matter how strong they were, they couldn't withstand that terrifying demonic sound—it was truly killing without drawing blood!

"So I told you, since we are all gathered here, we must coexist harmoniously and lovingly. If you argue again in the future, the consequences will be severe. Do you understand now?" Lin Luo spoke with earnest gravity, not forgetting to place Shōten’s fingers back on the guitar strings.

"We understand! We understand!" Seeing those delicate hands that had played the deadly divine music, the two felt as if they were staring at the Grim Reaper. Their pale faces were filled with terror, and they nodded quickly.

"Mm, very good." Lin Luo was quite pleased with how obedient they were.

With the strategic-level weapon of mass destruction, Shōten, present, the squabbles of the Aozaki sisters finally ceased. However, the collateral damage was considerable. Putting aside the countless small animals that died nearby, the members of their alliance were all severely injured. Especially the weakest three, they wouldn't recover without several days of rest.

Given that a world-ending threat like the Mercury Little Spider had already arrived in Fuyuki City, their current condition was clearly very dangerous. For this reason, Lin Luo felt compelled to perform some remedial work.

"Is everyone hurt? Let me do it." Hearing Lin Luo mention treatment, Shōten’s eyes lit up, and she volunteered eagerly.

"Can you?" Lin Luo looked at her skeptically.

The others, meanwhile, felt their hearts pound wildly, terrified she might suggest using music for healing... Regarding her music, they now dreaded it like the plague.

Shōten nodded confidently. "No problem. Don't let my appearance fool you; I actually know a little bit of healing ability. That..." She paused, then pointed at her own body, "Can I take it off?"

Hearing this, Shiki Aozaki and the others felt their injuries worsen.

"Ahem!" Lin Luo coughed awkwardly, then said solemnly, "I didn't know you had this inclination, but if you truly wish to do so, you can just pretend I'm not here."

Whoosh!

Instantly, all sixteen pairs of eyes from Shiki Aozaki and the rest shot towards Lin Luo.

Lin Luo managed a sheepish smile, about to say, "I was joking," but before he could finish, Shōten beside him let out a soft moan of pleasure. "Ah, it really is better to show it."

At this moment, everyone, including Lin Luo, froze.

Of course, they hadn't seen Shōten's nudity; rather, because two pure white wings had suddenly appeared on Shōten's back, looking exactly like those of a real angel.

It was then they realized that what Shōten meant by 'showing it' was not her body, but her wings!

But!

"Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-what...?!" Kurogiri Senka suddenly stood up, pointing at Shōten with a stunned expression, completely rendered speechless by the shock.

"Hm?" Shōten looked back at heringly, simultaneously reaching up to preen her feathers.

"Wh-why do you have wings?" Kurogiri Senka swallowed hard, finally managing to force the question out.

Shōten wore an expression of absolute certainty, "Why wouldn't I have wings?"

"Uh!" Kurogiri Senka was momentarily stumped. Indeed, why wouldn't she have wings?

"No! That's not the point!" Thankfully, Kurogiri Senka's intelligence was still intact, and she quickly regained her composure. "You're clearly human, so why do you have wings? That's not scientific!"

Shōten shook her head, "I am not human."

"Huh?" Kurogiri Senka was momentarily stunned, then instinctively asked, "Then what are you?"

"I am an Angel," Shōten replied.

"An Angel?" Kurogiri Senka was baffled again. This word surpassed her established worldview, leaving her unsure how to continue the conversation. Finally, she looked pleadingly towards Touko Aozaki.

But at this moment, not only her, but everyone else wore an expression of utter shock. Seeing Kurogiri Senka’s searching gaze, Touko Aozaki didn't know what to say either... 'Angel' wasn't an unfamiliar word, but did they actually exist? If one went by the records, they should be classified as fantasy beings.

"Arisu, what do you think?" Shiki Aozaki tapped the Witch next to her shoulder, but her gaze remained fixed on Shōten.

"This is what I think," Kuonji Arisu stared directly at Shōten.

"Kohaku, get me some eye drops. I must be hallucinating from that divine music earlier," Tohno Akihaba rubbed her head and instructed.

"Miss, I saw it too. It's an angel," Kohaku reported.

At this point, Ryougi Shiki’s eyes swirled with a green vortex. She stared intently at Shōten and then stated in a deep voice, "I cannot see her Lines of Death."

This was expected. Since a UO is equivalent to the incarnation of the planet's consciousness, it inherently lacks the concept of death, so how could its Lines of Death be visible? Although the current Shōten was only an Angel Projection, even the True Ancestors created by the lunar UO, Coatl, had no Lines of Death. Shōten, as the projection of the Venus UO's self-awareness, possessed the fundamental nature of a UO itself, regardless of her physical frailty.

Aoko and Touko, despite their extensive knowledge, did not understand UOs, or rather, they were entirely unaware of their existence. Moreover, Shōten's skill in concealing her aura was masterful; even they couldn't discern anything unusual. However, after hearing Ryougi Shiki's words, they understood... No Lines of Death meant she was absolutely not human; at the very least, she was a transcendent lifeform!

Perhaps she really was an angel.

Instantly, every gaze turned toward Lin Luo—some curious, some questioning, and some confused.

Lin Luo felt a headache looking at their stares... Angels were certainly nothing extraordinary in his eyes. What gave him a headache was the suddenness of this event. Although he knew Shōten was the Angel Projection of the Venus UO, he hadn't expected her to have wings, and worse, to deliberately display them!

After all, his current status was a magic-less failure, yet he had an angelic figure with wings by his side—the incongruity was palpable.

Why did she have to show her wings for no good reason? If she absolutely had to reveal them, shouldn't she have given him a heads-up? How was he supposed to explain this now? Was she intentionally undermining him?!

Lin Luo complained internally, but on the surface, he remained perfectly composed. Under the scrutiny of those sixteen pairs of eyes, he did not waver in the slightest and simply nodded slightly, "Yes, she is an angel. I picked her up."

This answer clearly did not satisfy everyone, and they continued to glare.

Lin Luo sighed, "I'm telling the truth. Don't you believe me?"

"We don't believe you!" everyone chorused.

"Believe it or not, I do."

...

Just as Lin Luo was agonizing over how to explain Shōten's identity, new powerhouses were approaching Fuyuki City—four of them, in fact. They were none other than the Ninth Ancestor, the vampire noble from the Dead Apostle side—Altrouge Brunestud—and her entourage: the White Beast, the White Knight, and the Black Knight.

"Princess, this city feels strange." Before even reaching Fuyuki, the Black Knight frowned upon sensing the distant aura, offering a reminder.

"It doesn't matter," Altrouge Brunestud smiled faintly, unconcerned. "So many Ancestors suddenly appearing is bizarre enough; what's one bit more strangeness?"

Hearing this, the Black Knight said no more.

Then, the four continued their advance. Before long, a figure entered Altrouge Brunestud's sight, and her eyes immediately lit up. She chuckled sinisterly, "Ah well, I wondered who it was. It turns out to be my foolish little sister. What a coincidence."

The figure ahead turned around. Dressed in a white gown with golden hair, it was the True Ancestor vampire noble, the White Princess—Arcueid Brunestud!

The vampire noble of the Dead Apostle faction and the vampire noble of the True Ancestor faction—after nearly a thousand years, these irreconcilable sisters finally encountered each other once more. Intense sparks flew between their gazes. (To be continued)