"In that case, let me show you the result of my month-long training! Even Mei doesn't know about this!"
Seeing that her previous move was ineffective, Kiana decided not to hold back any longer. She was ready to unleash the strongest power she could muster.
Kiana took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She then raised her right hand, palm facing Fu Hua. Her usual carefree expression became serious, and her aura visibly changed.
Fu Hua sensed something unusual. Looking behind Kiana, she saw the Void Spears—something that only the Second Herrscher could summon. A hint of astonishment flickered in her eyes as she muttered, "When did Kiana start mastering this power…?"
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"Squad leader, are you shocked by the power of I, Kiana? Well, the real show is just beginning!" Seeing the astonishment flash through Fu Hua's eyes, Kiana couldn't help but curl her lips into a proud smile. Her vanity was more satisfied than ever at this moment.
Especially when she caught sight of Mei's admiring gaze from afar, Kiana's smile grew even wider. The fatigue from a month of grueling training suddenly felt worth it.
"Kiana..." Meanwhile, Mei, who was silently observing from a distance, clutched her hands to her chest. Her eyes were filled with worry as she watched Kiana wield her power—there was no admiration in them at all.
Fu Hua adjusted her glasses, the reflection momentarily hiding the astonishment in her eyes. Kiana's progress was indeed astounding. Just by mastering the Herrscher of the Void's powers, she could already be considered competent—perhaps even exceptional.
However, knowing that Kiana had secretly trained in using the Herrscher's abilities without telling anyone, Fu Hua couldn't help but furrow her brows. Kiana was far too reckless.
If anything went wrong, the consciousness of the Second Herrscher might seize the opportunity to take over her body. And with no one around to notice in time, the entire St. Freya Academy would face an unprecedented disaster.
Fortunately, nothing like that had happened, allowing Fu Hua to relax her tense brows slightly. But Kiana still needed a stern lesson.
"Kiana, your talent has truly exceeded my expectations."
"As the old saying goes… an arrogant army is bound to lose. You must not be too hasty, or you may end up failing due to impatience..."
Holding her right arm, Kiana looked at Fu Hua, who was lecturing away, sweat forming on her forehead as she swallowed nervously.
If she let the squad leader continue like this, she might collapse first. So she quickly interrupted, saying, "Stop, stop, stop! Squad leader Fu Hua, I can't maintain this power much longer..."
"Hmm... Kiana, attack me with all you've got. Let me see how well you can control this power."
Fu Hua revealed the hands she had kept behind her back, a serious look flashing in her eyes as she prepared to face an attack infused with the Herrscher of the Void's power head-on.
"Squad leader, be careful!"
Kiana nodded slightly, her fingers closing in a grasping motion. From the void, a spear shot out instantly, followed by a series of inhuman screams.
"This is...?"
Fu Hua was momentarily stunned by the sudden screams, but she quickly regained composure.
Seeing a humanoid black shadow flying toward her along with the spear, she had no choice but to change her defensive stance.
Her hands moved gracefully as if stroking the air, soft and elegant. Her steps were slow yet steady—every retreat, advance, and spin seemed to narrate an inner rhythm and power.
The moment she came into contact with the spear and the black shadow, a strange force guided them off their attack trajectory, making them rotate along with Fu Hua's palms.
"Yin and Yang transform, purity and impurity separate."
A soft chant resonated as Fu Hua spread her hands apart, sending the spear and the black shadow flying in opposite directions. They crashed heavily to the ground, causing a loud impact.
Kiana ran up to Fu Hua, looking at her slightly pale face with concern. "Squad leader, are you hurt?"
"I'm fine. The sudden shift in attack forced me to adjust hastily, causing a brief internal imbalance. A short rest will be enough. But that shadow... it seemed to be a person..."
Fu Hua took a deep breath, her complexion visibly recovering. She turned her gaze toward Kiana, a questioning look in her eyes.
"Squad leader Fu Hua, this has never happened before when I summoned my spears..."
Facing Fu Hua's inquiry, Kiana shrugged with a bewildered expression, clearly unsure about what she had just summoned.
"Never mind, I'll go check it out myself." Fu Hua lowered the hand she had been rubbing against her chin and swiftly moved toward the dust-filled area where the black shadow had fallen.
Kiana scratched her head, but when she saw Mei walking toward her, she immediately cast aside her thoughts and happily threw herself into Mei's embrace.
Mei smiled gently, softly combing Kiana's messy hair. The scene was filled with warmth and harmony.
After a while, noticing Fu Hua returning, Mei lightly patted Kiana's head and whispered, "Kiana, get up. The squad leader is back."
"Mei, I have no strength left... I need Mei's kiss to recover~"
Kiana fluttered her big eyes and pouted, staring at Mei with a coquettish expression, a sweet smile forming on her lips as she spoke in a soft, delicate voice.
Mei shook her head, a hint of playful exasperation in her eyes. Unable to resist, she leaned down and gently kissed Kiana's forehead.
"Kiana, full HP restored!"
Receiving Mei's kiss, Kiana immediately sat up from Mei's embrace, grinning foolishly while holding her forehead as if she had just obtained the greatest treasure in the world.
Fu Hua looked at Mei, whose face was flushed with embarrassment, then at Kiana, who was grinning like an idiot. A hint of confusion flashed across her otherwise serious expression.
Feeling Fu Hua's gaze, Mei became a little flustered and asked, "Squad leader, did you find anything?"