In the heart of the Academy City, nestled within the grand estate of Viscount Vere, lay a residence temporarily claimed by Theodore, the ducal heir, or rather, his stand-in, Olette Morsen.
Beneath this opulent façade, hidden from prying eyes, sprawled a secret dungeon, its existence known only to a selected few.
The dungeon was a grim place, its air thick with dampness and shadow.
Within its confines, Su Nian stood enveloped by the blazing curtain of the Spirit Abyss Flame Wall, a vision of regal power, as if she were a queen commanding the very essence of fire.
Her presence was mesmerizing, her beauty a breathtaking force that seemed to defy the gloom around her.
Her long, golden hair danced wildly in the heat, kissed by the flames until it glowed a fierce orange-red.
Her fair, exquisite face, flushed by the firelight, radiated a vivid allure.
Her bright eyes locked onto her enemy with a gaze that burned with resolve and unyielding determination.
When she declared that someone would die today, her words carried the weight of absolute certainty.
Olette , witnessing Su Nian’s deadly proclamation and the unleashed might of her magic, dared not hesitate.
With a swift gesture, he signaled his lackeys, who lunged toward her like ravenous wolves, their eyes glinting with malice.
Olette ‘s depravity knew no bounds.
Defying the laws of the land, he captured and tormented girls of all kinds, not merely to sate his twisted desires or to mend the scars of his childhood, but also for profit.
As he himself had boasted, there were those who suppressed their true natures, yearning secretly to trample law and morality.
These were the souls Olette could ensnare, the ones he lured with promises of wealth and women.
His followers, now charging at Su Nian, had reaped the rewards of his generosity.
The girls he collected, once he was done with them, were passed to his men as spoils.
Wealth and women—these were the crude tools Olette wielded to secure loyalty.
As a mere stand-in, such resources were not easily come by without resorting to unsavory means.
Su Nian, undaunted, faced the oncoming horde.
Her eyes narrowed, and with a thought, she summoned the Spirit Abyss Flame Wall.
The towering goddess formed of flame roared to life, its radiant heat transforming the dim dungeon into a blazing inferno, as bright as day.
The goddess’s hands moved with ethereal grace, conjuring streams of fire that shot forth like meteors, each one striking Olette ‘s men with pinpoint precision.
The moment the flames touched their targets, they erupted in blinding brilliance, accompanied by agonized screams.
One by one, the men fell, writhing in pain on the cold stone floor.
Through days of rigorous training and study under the system’s guidance, Su Nian had transcended her limits.
Her mastery over magic, once confined to simple spells like Flame Technique or Ice Mist, had been extraordinary even then—she could weave them into dazzling forms for combat or spectacle.
But her two S-rank spells?
She had wielded them cautiously, relying on their default configurations.
Now, after relentless practice, she commanded the Spirit Abyss Flame Wall with the precision of her own limbs.
The spell’s form reminded her of a fiery construct from a manga she loved in her past life—a smaller, yet no less formidable version of a blazing deity.
The Spirit Abyss Flame Wall was no longer just a shield; it was a weapon.
The massive goddess, forged of fire and water, moved as an extension of Su Nian’s will.
A mere flick of its hand could devastate her foes, blending offense and defense into a seamless dance of destruction.
She had seen the dark magic of that vile Horned Demon, capable of defense, attack, and even transforming into black mist for swift movement.
If such versatility was possible, why not for her?
Her magic, purchased through the system, was of a higher caliber—there was no reason it couldn’t match or surpass such feats.
“Is this all you’ve got? You dare follow this wretch and wreak havoc?” Su Nian’s voice thundered through the dungeon, resonating with unshakable authority.
“Drop your weapons and surrender, or face judgment!”
Her golden hair, now a cascade of orange flame, whipped through the air.
Her fair face, illuminated by the firelight, blazed with righteous fury and unyielding justice.
Her brows arched sharply, exuding a commanding presence, while her lips pressed into a resolute line, radiating undeniable power.
Olette ‘s men faltered, their weapons trembling in their hands as they exchanged uneasy glances.
A stand-in’s guards were never the elite—after all, their purpose was to draw fire, to lure assassins to the decoy.
They were expendable.
Faced with Su Nian’s indomitable presence and the sight of their comrades writhing in agony, some of the weaker-willed men shrank back, retreating into the shadows.
The advanced form of the Spirit Abyss Flame Wall was too formidable, its seamless blend of attack and defense far beyond their ability to counter.
Yet a few remained loyal, bound by Olette ‘s bribes or blackmailed by secrets he held over them.
They exchanged a glance, tightened their grips on their weapons, and prepared for a final stand.
“Fools who refuse to yield…” Su Nian murmured, her voice cold as she stood with her hands clasped behind her back.
In the next instant, the goddess of the Spirit Abyss Flame Wall moved.
Its hands swept through the air, summoning fiery spears that streaked forth like arrows loosed from a bow.
With a howl of wind, they struck their targets with lethal precision.
Screams filled the air as the flames consumed the remaining men, their bodies collapsing in heaps, writhing until they stilled.
The acrid scent of charred flesh hung heavy in the dungeon.
Olette , witnessing the carnage, felt terror grip his heart.
His legs shook uncontrollably, sweat beading on his ashen forehead, his face pale as death.
He had never imagined this seemingly delicate magical girl idol could wield such devastating power.
“S-stay back!” he stammered, his voice quaking as he stumbled backward, eyes darting for an escape.
Su Nian advanced, each step deliberate, as if treading upon Olette ‘s very soul.
“Afraid now? It’s too late,” she said, her voice a chilling blade.
“I told you—someone dies today.”
With her words, the advanced Spirit Abyss Flame Wall unleashed a salvo of ice spikes, piercing Olette ‘s knees with surgical precision.
He crumpled to the ground, howling in pain.
As Su Nian closed in, the sound of commotion erupted outside.
The guards stationed beyond the dungeon had sensed the disturbance and were rushing to intervene.
Su Nian spun, her magic flaring to meet the reinforcements.
In that moment of distraction, Olette ‘s desperation sparked a vile plan.
His own strength was no match for Su Nian’s extraordinary magic, and with his legs ruined, flight was impossible.
But he was shameless enough to seize any advantage.
His eyes fell on Amy, lying half-conscious nearby.
Scrambling with ruthless determination, Olette dragged himself to her side, pressing a dagger to her throat.
“Su Nian, one move, and she dies! Dispel your magic!” he roared, his voice a hysterical mix of madness and survival instinct.
Amy snapped awake, her eyes wide with terror as the cold steel pressed against her skin.
Her body trembled, but her voice held a thread of defiance.
“Su Nian… don’t worry about me. Kill this monster!”
As Su Nian hesitated, a familiar wisp of black mist materialized behind Olette , its presence dark and foreboding.