Chapter 142: Don't Bring the Ultimate Assassination Fist Rhythm!

If not for lacking the ability, Jia Ji would have yanked the "Serpent of Sacrifice" straight out of the "Gap Between Worlds" and slammed it onto Sakai Yuuji, instantly activating the "Great Litany of Creation" to forge the "Nothingness" and expel every Red Demon in one fell swoop.

But this was clearly impossible, so this time they couldn't rush—they had to proceed step by step.

After intensive discussions between Jia Ji and Xia Na regarding future events, plus input from several strategists in the group, they decided to follow the time-honored tradition—do nothing.

Let the plot unfold as it should.

Of course, while the original plot ended happily, that happiness was limited to the finale—many tragedies still occurred along the way.

They needed to eliminate every Red Demon at each critical juncture before they could inflict harm, prevent every avoidable sacrifice, and strive for a world where no one was hurt.

This time, Jia Ji didn't need to run around—the city of Mihama and Sakai Yuuji shone like beacons, suspended between the Red World and the Human World, drawing everyone's attention, whether Red Demon or Flame Haze, none could ignore the beacon or the gravitational field created by the "Zeroth Miso."

Falieragni.

The first Red King dragged into the conflict, killed by Tachibana, would certainly not be the last.

Known as the "Hunter" for collecting artifacts and hunting Flame Haze, he possessed a cunning, calculating nature; though he appeared weak, his true strength ranked him fourth among modern Kings.

His specialty was perceiving the "nature of prey"—with this power, he could instantly discern the abilities and usage of artifacts, wield multiple artifacts, and had already slain several Flame Haze, earning him the title "Flame Haze Killer."

He sought to activate the "City Devouring" ritual to achieve "Rebirth," making his phosphene Marianu a true being.

"To devour an entire city just to turn a doll into a real person… this plot is so classic, I suggest exiling it to the Demon Realm for Shen Qi and her daughter to remake it—or rename it Luo Zhen."

Though still a pervert obsessed with dolls, his feelings were genuine—perhaps he could rank tenth among Red Kings for deepest affection.

No help—it's the nature of Red Demons to act on desire; few among them dream of world conquest, but many are hopelessly devoted lovers, and Falieragni doesn't even make the top tier.

Either they seek vengeance for a lover, or aim to resurrect one.

After all, Red Demons and Flame Haze often live for hundreds or thousands of years; some grow indifferent to emotion, but others cling to love and hatred more fiercely, more deeply, than anything else.

By fate's inertia, he would strike while Yuuji was at school, seeking revenge for his nearly killed phosphene, then crash headlong into Xia Na disguised as "Hirai En," triggering a cascade of trouble, barely managing to win after a desperate fight.

With Jia Ji as a wildcard this time, no need for back-and-forth—they'd just rush in and kill him outright, looting his gear.

"Are you sure? Red Kings aren't easy to handle."

Xia Na knew how reliable this man was in combat, but she also understood how formidable Falieragni was—he'd tangled with Flame Haze for so long, even killed some, and still roamed free; at the very least, his escape skills were top-tier.

Jia Ji bristled under Xia Na's skeptical gaze: "Don't bring that 'Ultimate Assassination Fist' rhythm! This time, Falieragni will come but never leave!"

He emphasized the word "assassination."

Correct—he was on the verge of completing his long-planned "City Devouring" technique; even if the cautious Red King saw only Xia Na alone, he'd retreat immediately to strategize.

Add to that Jia Ji—a man who could move freely within a Seal, wasn't a Mistis, and looked dangerously formidable—and Falieragni wouldn't even waste words before fleeing.

To kill him, they needed swift, stealthy action—a lethal strike—namely, assassination.

"The plan is set. Now worry about yourself," Jia Ji said to Xia Na, reaching out to pat her head—she dodged.

"Good boy, get ready for school tomorrow."

Due to plot deviation, Yuuji's assassination location shifted slightly, meaning the "true heroine," Hirai En, didn't vanish into a torch—so Xia Na couldn't replace her.

"Hmph, so I'm the mysterious transfer student now?"

"Fine, I'll do it—who's afraid?"

But she didn't see the "Plan Complete" expression on Jia Ji's face as he turned away.

He'd gone to great lengths to solve Xia Na's academic problem.

…………

The rainbow barrier surrounded the window and part of the corridor.

Flames erupted from the floor, tracing strange, totem-like runes.

All students suddenly froze mid-action.

A sense of cosmic dissonance surged through them—or the feeling that time itself had warped—sending chills down their spines.

Xia Na stood, drawing her sword.

"Here it comes."

"Here? Now?"

Yuuji, unprepared, asked cluelessly.

Before her appeared a purple-haired man, roughly 185 cm tall, wreathed in pale white flames.

The Red King gently caressed his beloved, his doll, his phosphene—Marianu—with one hand, while wielding the "Regular Semitone Horn"—a card-shaped artifact—toward Xia Na.

Xia Na pivoted on her toes, spinning her legs; her blazing eyes left trails of light, fiery hair scattering embers, her left arm slashed through a swarm of cards, shattering them.

"So... you're the Contractee of the famed 'Heaven's Scorching Fire'... the 'Blazing-Eyed Exterminator'..."

"Remember my name: Xia Na—the one who will exterminate you!"

Seizing the opening, Xia Na gripped the hilt with her left hand, shifted it behind her, slightly thrust her right shoulder forward, and launched a thrust.

She would kill him before Jia Ji acted—to prove her strength!

While their battle raged fiercely,

In a corner of the classroom, someone sat with eyes closed, erasing his presence.

Motionless as a statue, holding his breath, suppressing his heartbeat to its minimum, his pale, ghastly skin became camouflage within the Seal, his chest no longer rising or falling—he looked dead at a glance.

Simultaneously, he silently recited the names of Akarins, Saint Kei, Shiharu Tadakuni, and other utterly invisible figures, hoping they'd aid him in his first-ever assassination.

Perhaps only minutes passed. Perhaps only seconds.

Falieragni halted first, his expression twisting into a cold smirk as he glanced at Yuuji: "No need to rush… wait a moment. I'll return when conditions are favorable."

His intent to flee was unmistakable.

Now was the moment!

The Fist Master opened his eyes!

"Domo, I am the Fist Master Jia Ji, here to perform a musical fist technique show!"

A towering black shadow leapt suddenly from the motionless students on the floor, nearly brushing the ceiling; books rained down from his body, desks and chairs shoved aside.

"But I don't know music—I only know fist techniques!"

Muscles and bones erupted with unprecedented power; blood surged, heart thundered like waves and lightning; the accumulated battle aura, honed to perfection, coiled into a single, devastating force.

Five fingers clenched into a fist, covered in deep-blue radiance—blindingly intense—and in a flash too swift to react, a fist the size of a sandbag slammed straight into the Red King, still elegant and poised mid-air after the battle.

"Eeeeh!"

(End of Chapter)