Step by step, Phantylia advanced.
With every step—
Her pressure surged higher.
"Klee isn't afraid of Big Sister Phantylia!"
Klee tightened her grip on the sword, eyes determined.
"Yeah! What's there to fear? Worst case, we get eliminated!"
"Exactly! Are we worse than a kid?!"
Klee's courage steadied everyone.
Weapons drawn.
No retreat.
"…Pathetic."
Phantylia raised her hand.
A single spell—
BOOM.
Everyone's HP dropped by half.
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
"That's way too broken!"
"You're the Demon King, not a cheat code!"
Complaints exploded—
But Yanqing wasn't listening.
His eyes—
Locked on Phantylia.
Then—
They lit up.
Now.
She had stepped into position—
Directly in front of Feixiao.
Without hesitation—
Yanqing crushed the orb in his hand.
FLASH—
Light engulfed Feixiao.
[Notice: Feixiao's control has been lifted. She has joined the Hero faction.]
"…Huh?!"
Feixiao froze.
What just happened?!
But instinct kicked in.
Her sword—
Originally aimed at players—
Swung instead toward Phantylia.
Full power.
"You—!"
Phantylia barely shifted—
Too late to fully dodge.
The blade cut across her—
HP dropped sharply.
Feixiao instantly retreated—
Landing beside the players.
"General Feixiao, mission accomplished!"
Yanqing beamed.
"…Well done."
She replied calmly.
Inside?
MY REWARD IS GONE!!!
She knew the truth.
Even with Klee—
Even with everyone—
They couldn't beat this buffed Phantylia.
And now—
She'd switched sides.
No reward.
No nothing.
"…You betrayed us? Now?"
Ningguang frowned.
"This late?"
"…You think I wanted this?!"
Feixiao screamed internally.
This was HER plan.
She told Yanqing to find a way to free her.
And now—
It backfired.
"…Pfft."
Phantylia suddenly laughed.
At first, she was furious.
But seeing Feixiao's dark expression—
She couldn't hold it in.
"You didn't expect this either, did you?"
Feixiao: ...
"Don't worry! With General Feixiao, we'll win!"
Yanqing stood proudly beside her.
Feixiao:
Kid… you doomed me.
"Heh… you think that changes anything?"
Phantylia raised her hand again.
Another spell.
Everyone's HP dropped to critical.
"Charge! Don't let her cast again!"
Feixiao gritted her teeth and led the attack.
Demon Generals surged forward.
Battle erupted again.
Meanwhile — First Floor
Raiden Shogun was barely standing.
HP: critical.
With a final burst—
She slammed Kamisato Ayaka against the wall.
"Burn."
Flames erupted.
Ayaka's HP plummeted.
Only two remained on her team:
Ayaka
Cyno
Everyone else—
Gone.
"Heal!"
Ayaka cast just in time—
Barely surviving.
[Notice: Player Herta has been eliminated.]
[Notice: Player Ruan Mei has been eliminated.]
[Notice: Player Argenti has been eliminated.]
Notifications flooded in.
"…What's happening upstairs?!"
Ayaka's heart sank.
Didn't Feixiao switch sides?
Why are they still losing?!
Then—
A new notification.
[Notice: Demon General Ningguang defeated. Hero morale rises!]
"…Yes!"
[Notice: Demon General Black Swan defeated. Hero morale rises!]
Two down.
Hope surged.
"If they can do it—so can I!"
Ayaka's eyes sharpened.
She charged.
Blades clashed—
At the same moment—
Cyno struck.
BOOM.
Raiden's HP—
Zero.
"…You won't escape."
Even in defeat—
She smiled faintly.
The trap—
Was already set.
[Notice: Demon General Raiden Shogun defeated. Hero morale rises!]
Ayaka exhaled deeply.
Finally—
She could go upstairs—
Then—
[Notice: Hero Yanqing has been eliminated.]
"…What?"
[Notice: Hero Klee has been eliminated.]
"…?!"
This wasn't shock anymore.
It was terror.
Klee—
Their trump card—
Gone.
Which meant—
Everything… was over.
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