"We appreciate your kindness, but we must respectfully decline," after a moment of silence, Yakumo Yukari stepped forward, offering a slight smile to No. 40 in front of the assembled company. "Even if you chose to spare us, we cannot stop moving forward. Therefore, we will not allow anyone to stand in our way... We will strike you down with all our might, even if it means we must become the villains to do so."

"Hmm, that sounds acceptable," No. 40 replied, showing no anger at all. Instead, she nodded in agreement. "If we use our full strength and still cannot defeat you, then it is simply a matter of inferior skill, and Master will not blame us for it... In that case, what manner of combat do you propose we use against us?"

"Any manner is fine?" Katsura Hinagiku inquired.

"Naturally."

Seeing her agree so readily, Reimu's eyes lit up, and she immediately declared, "Then let's play Rock-Paper-Scissors. It's fast and easy."

Good heavens, where is their integrity... The rest of the group rolled their eyes simultaneously. Rock-Paper-Scissors—how could she even suggest such a thing!

"Rock-Paper-Scissors? That might not work," while Reimu was completely unrestrained by propriety, No. 40 was genuinely naive. She actually pinched her chin, pondered for a long moment, and then shook her head with a serious expression. "Although this method is indeed fine, as it ensures no one gets hurt, there are ten of you and only two of us. That is unfair, unless only two of you participate, then I will accept."

Wait! Is that the aspect you're focusing on?

The others were speechless.

"What are you talking about! Even though there are ten of us, Rock-Paper-Scissors only has three outcomes. Each person has a one-third chance of winning. What does the number of people have to do with it? Our group of ten has a one-third chance of winning, and your group of two also has a one-third chance of winning. It's completely fair!" Reimu retorted instantly.

What bizarre, tangled logic is this?

Hearing this, Yakumo Yukari and the others were instantly bewildered, caught in a whirlwind of confusion. Even Suzumiya Haruhi stared at Reimu for a long moment. Haruhi had always believed her own sense of propriety was infinitely close to zero. But now she realized Reimu's integrity was something she could never hope to attain—it was negative infinity!

First looking at Reimu, who was clearly twisting concepts with a righteous expression, and then at No. 40, who was earnestly calculating the odds while counting on her fingers because of Reimu's words, the group suddenly felt as if they were the villains.

"How about this," Yukari suddenly called softly, snapping the slightly dazed No. 40 back to attention, and stated gravely, "We have ten people, and you have two. Why don't we make it five against one? What do you think?"

While Yukari didn't doubt her ability to trick No. 40 with convoluted logic, given her natural airheadedness, the opponent, despite being somewhat innocent, was still a powerhouse from Beyond the Heavens and couldn't be easily fooled. Moreover, there was also No. 42... In Yukari's estimation, that little loli was anything but innocent.

Therefore, Yukari held no illusions that the confrontation could pass without incident.

At this very moment, while the others were engaged in fierce battle, wasting time here was clearly unwise.

"Good, good! It should have been like this from the start!" Before No. 40 could reply to Yukari's proposal, the little loli, No. 42, exclaimed excitedly. She hopped atop the terrifying monster beneath her feet, clapping her hands, and then pointed her tiny finger at the group. "I'll choose directly then: you, you, you, you, and you! Come play with me!"

The loli selected five people without a second thought. It must be said, however, that her judgment was excellent, as the five she chose were precisely... Yakumo Yukari, the vessel of the Boundary Heart; Hakurei Reimu, the vessel of the Fantasy Heart; Kaguya Houraisan, the vessel of the Eternal Heart; Suzumiya Haruhi, the vessel of the Miracle Heart; and Hatsune Miku, the vessel of the Future Heart.

Not only were they all hosts of the Special Group, but they were also the strongest five among the ten gathered there.

Of course, beyond her good eye for talent, her selection also betrayed her supreme confidence.

No. 40 had previously cautioned the loli not to underestimate the Hosts, yet she offered no objection to the current selection, instead smiling toward Yukari and the others. "And your opinions?"

Yukari maintained an impassive expression, but hesitation flickered within her mind. While No. 42 appeared far more terrifying in sheer aura, according to the rule that higher rankings in Group Six meant greater strength, the quiet and naturally inclined No. 40 was likely the strongest present. Whether the strongest five on their side could defeat No. 42 was an unknown, but pitting the remaining five, who were even weaker than those five, against No. 40, who might be the strongest, would truly be a path to certain death.

"It's fine to agree to it. Didn't she say she wouldn't kill anyone?" Kaguya transmitted to her telepathically at this moment.

"Can we trust that?" Yukari sent back. While No. 40 had indeed made that statement, who knew what would happen when the fighting actually began?

"I don't think she is one to lie, and besides..." Kaguya covered her mouth, a darkly cunning glint in her eyes. "If we put in a bit more effort and take care of that little girl first, in the best-case scenario, it could become ten against one."

"But the worst case is five against two."

"Well, since we came here, we came prepared for a battle of life and death. Why not take a gamble?"

While the two clever and dark-minded individuals conferred secretly, the little loli opposite them seemed to grow impatient. She stamped her foot unhappily and shouted, "Hey, are you agreeing or not? If you don't decide soon, I'll let my darling eat all of you!"

As she spoke, the monster beneath her feet bared its teeth menacingly toward the group.

"Fine, we accept your challenge," Yukari immediately looked toward her, responding without yielding an inch. Indeed, since they had arrived here, they had already put their lives on the line. If they lacked the resolve to risk everything, what other claim could they have?

"Haha, that's more like it!"

The loli cheered in delight with an air of pure innocence, but immediately afterward, a towering, furious energy erupted from her body, shooting straight into the sky, instantly piercing through the void. Everyone present could not help but stare.

"Let's have a real good time... Special Group!"

Before the wave of oppressive energy had even subsided, the loli had already rushed to their immediate vicinity. The innocence in her eyes was gone, replaced only by a bloodthirsty frenzy. Her ferocity gave even Yakumo Yukari, who had seen countless demons and monsters, a chilling pause.

"The Boundary of Disappearance and Existence!"

Despite the chill in her heart, Yukari reacted instantly, using her Boundary power to transport the group away before they could be hit... Although the loli's target was only Yukari's group of five, her attack was so ferocious that it enveloped the other five, including Artoria's party, as well.

However, the moment Yukari acted, the loli stopped paying attention to the five who were outside her intended target and focused solely on pursuing Yukari. The instant Yukari reappeared some distance away, the loli's twin fists struck out toward her.

Huh?

But quickly, the loli’s expression froze. Yakumo Yukari was right there, yet her fists couldn't connect. What was happening?

"Hehe," Kaguya let out a soft chuckle from not far behind the loli, covering her mouth. This was her ability, the Power of Eternity; the moment the loli attacked, Kaguya had already applied this power, turning an instant into eternity.

Since it had become eternity, how could the loli possibly strike Yukari easily?

This was the strength of the Special Group. Although their power level was only at the Ninth Heaven Realm, their individual abilities possessed the most unique attributes in existence, drastically narrowing the insurmountable chasm between the Ninth Heaven and Beyond the Heavens.

"Roar!!"

However, before Kaguya could celebrate for long, the terrifying monster suddenly appeared before her and bit down hard.

Kaguya instinctively fled from the spot. Although she narrowly escaped, the result was...

"It ate my Eternity?" Sensing that the Power of Eternity she had cast had vanished, Kaguya instantly lost her composure.

"Hmph, what a bothersome ability, but I have my treasures, so I'm not afraid!" The loli said irritably, this time charging toward Kaguya, apparently intending to seize this opportunity to kill her.

But almost simultaneously, Hakurei Reimu, Hatsune Miku, and Suzumiya Haruhi rushed to intercept her.

Leaving the fight on that side aside for the moment—it was currently an even stalemate—the scene on the other side, where Saber's four companions from the first group and Shiki Ryougi, the vessel of the Root, confronted No. 40, was less optimistic. The five of them were being thoroughly suppressed by No. 40. Fortunately, No. 40 truly seemed to have no intention of harming anyone; otherwise, in just that brief moment, Misaka Mikoto and Katsura Hinagiku, who were only at the Eighth Heaven Realm, would likely have been utterly defeated.

...

By now, the Hosts had all found their respective opponents. Some were locked in an evenly matched battle, while others were fighting in a rather desperate situation. But regardless, they were all fighting with effort. In contrast, Lin Luo’s side was much less productive; he still had not found Luo Tianyi.

It wasn't for lack of trying. In fact, even he found it strange. He could still sense Luo Tianyi's presence until just a short while ago, but then the connection abruptly vanished, and he couldn't find her no matter how hard he searched.

Where could she have gone?

Lin Luo continued searching while thinking, simulating Luo Tianyi's thought patterns. Suddenly, he seemed to grasp something, and his heart stirred.

Could she have gone to that place?

It was a quiet, remote mountain village. In the furthest corner stood a dilapidated woodshed, its door facing east. A few hundred meters away was a steep cliff, and beneath the cliff stretched an endless sea, where waves could occasionally be seen crashing against the shore.

A young woman with a graceful figure stood atop this very cliff.

Luo Tianyi!

"I knew you'd be here," Lin Luo's voice rang out a moment later.