Chapter 14: Rooftop fight

“Zero, Zero, how’s that new S-rank in your dorm doing?”

A woman’s voice crackled through the earpiece, accompanied by the crunch of potato chips.

“Zero, why aren’t you answering?
Did something go wrong?
Should I send Long Legs to back you up?”

Zero glanced at Bai Ci, who was gazing at the stars from the rooftop.
“No issues.”

“No issues, and you’re not responding?
Do you know how worried that makes me?”
The woman on the phone sounded exasperated, chewing her chips even harder.

“I’m tracking.”
Zero’s explanation was short and to the point.

The implication was clear: tailing an S-rank hybrid while reporting back was a tall order.

“Just go up to her.
It’s not a big deal.”
Potato Chip Girl spoke casually.
“Have you forgotten our goal?
Test this S-rank’s strength.
We’re gonna have to fight her eventually, so what’s the harm in showing our hand now?”

She paused, then added with a hint of frustration, “The plan to awaken Norton is about to start.
And now Cassell College suddenly digs up another S-rank?
That’s making my job as the strategist a pain.
You and Long Legs can handle Chu Zihang and Caesar, but what about this new S-rank?
We can’t rely on those Hunter website grunts to deal with an S-rank.
Their bloodlines are C-rank at best, and they don’t even have Yanling.”

Zero went quiet for a moment.
“Understood.”

“I’ll handle her and Chu Zihang.”
Zero’s voice was calm, stating a fact.

“Come on, do you even know what an S-rank’s strength is?
Every S-rank besides Lu Mingfei is a monster.
Look at Anghot—that old man’s called the [pinnacle of hybrids].
If he’s labeled her an S-rank, she’s got something special.
He doesn’t mess around when it comes to dragon-slaying.”
More chip-crunching came through the earpiece.
“We can’t underestimate any S-rank… except Lu Mingfei.”

Zero fell silent again.
She pulled up her combat suit’s mask and stepped out, approaching the bench on the rooftop.
Bai Ci noticed her.

Bai Ci, lost in the stars, blinked in surprise when she saw Zero standing there.
She rubbed her eyes.
“You…”

“Please… fight me.”

Zero’s voice was cold and resolute, no trace of hesitation.

“Fight?”
Bai Ci’s eyes widened.
She couldn’t believe someone would just show up in the middle of the night and say, “Hey, let’s throw down.”
It was absurd.

“Yes, you’re an S-rank.
I want to test your strength.”
Zero stared at her, fingers curling into a fist, thumb locking over her index and middle fingers.
Her body shifted, and her right fist swung forward, cutting through the air with a sharp whoosh.

Bai Ci tried to dodge, but Zero’s attack was lightning-fast.
She barely raised her arm to block the punch.
The impact made her wince, a dull ache spreading through her left arm.

She couldn’t wrap her head around it.
She’d only been named an S-rank today, by fluke, and now someone was picking a fight?
What was this nonsense?

“Let’s continue.”
Zero’s voice was icy as she stepped forward steadily, leaning slightly.
Her other hand shot out, grabbing Bai Ci’s shoulder.
With a twist of her waist, she flung Bai Ci hard.

Bai Ci crashed to the ground, her back burning with pain like it was on fire.

Suddenly, she saw a city…

A rainy, desolate city.
A boy walked slowly through the downpour.

The rain was heavy, the city’s lights dim and scattered, just enough to illuminate the boy’s path.
He walked with his head down, searching for something.

“You’ll catch a cold in the rain.”

The boy looked up, speaking to Bai Ci.

She didn’t know why she was here or why she was soaked.

“I know.”

“Then why stay in the rain?”

Bai Ci looked at him, thinking she’d been dropped here without an umbrella or shelter.
What else could she do?

The boy went quiet, then smiled.
“I get it.
You like the rain, don’t you?”

Who in their right mind likes getting drenched?

“I love the rain too.”
The boy kept walking.
“The way it pours over your head, sliding down your skin—it’s amazing.”

“Why?”

“Don’t you think it’s great?
The clear yet chaotic sound of rain crashing from all directions.
No one can see your face.
You can cry or laugh as you please.”

Bai Ci froze, looking at the boy’s face as he turned.

She couldn’t tell what expression he wore.

“You forgot, didn’t you?
Before someone held an umbrella for you, you loved the rain too.”

He turned to her, and she finally saw his face clearly—like her own, from before she came to this world…

“So… don’t let people push you around anymore, or you’ll end up in the rain again…”

“Suppress that human weakness in your heart.
Break the chains on your bloodline.
Let the dragon blood in your veins boil and unleash greater power, big sister.”

Dragons were always a violent race, dominated by savage, ferocious emotions.
After Black King Nidhogg crushed the White King’s rebellion, he skinned and devoured his kin.
Even the cruelest human tyrants were tame compared to dragons.

Hybrids, with a higher human gene ratio, showed more human traits.
But they also feared the dragon blood within, wary of letting it control their minds.

The draconic nature buried in hybrids was something else entirely.
When their dragon blood surged, that hidden nature emerged, transforming them into someone unrecognizable.

Zero watched Bai Ci lying on the ground, silent.

“Zero, Zero, what’s happening?
What’s the S-rank’s status?”

“She’s been down since I knocked her to the ground.”
Zero’s reply was flat.

“That’s it?”
Potato Chip Girl sounded confused.
“Is this S-rank another dud like Lu Mingfei?”

Zero didn’t respond, just stood there.
Bai Ci staggered to her feet, glaring at her.

Her golden eyes burned brilliantly in the dark.

Bai Ci launched forward, fingers curling, aiming for Zero’s neck.
Zero stepped back, dodging, but Bai Ci’s other hand clamped onto her arm.

“Got you, you jerk.”

Bai Ci’s eyes blazed like twin suns, radiant and fierce.

Madness, restlessness, violence—a new sensation coursed through her, urging her to unleash it.

She felt like she could do anything.

Zero tried to break free but couldn’t.
Bai Ci’s grip was painfully tight.
Giving up on escaping, Zero twisted her wrist, grabbed Bai Ci’s arm with her other hand, and threw her to the ground.

How such a small frame produced such incredible strength was a mystery.

Bai Ci hit the ground, her sharp teeth grinding.
She clutched her chest, gasping, but the strange excitement and impulse still drove her.
She held onto Zero’s hand, yanked her down, pinned her, and swung a fist hard into her attacker’s stomach.

Judging by the cracked ground beneath Zero, the blow could’ve caused internal bleeding.
A scream should’ve followed, but Zero only clenched her teeth, refusing to make a sound.

Bai Ci let go, but Zero sprang back, pulling away.
Her movements turned fluid, like an elegant dancer stepping onto a stage.
This space was now her domain.

The sharp wind was her skirt’s hem.
The swirling dust, rose petals scattered on her stage.
Her swift, agile figure was her captivating dance.
And Bai Ci was her sole audience.

Zero was fast, but Bai Ci’s dragon-blood-enhanced senses were sharper.
Her hearing, smell, and sight were razor-keen.
She could hear a mosquito buzzing ten meters away.
But sensing Zero and catching her were different—she couldn’t grab her, and it was starting to piss her off.

Like an annoying fly!

Zero landed a sharp elbow strike.
Despite her weaker strength, she kept taking the initiative.

So fast…

This time, she aimed for Bai Ci’s jaw.

The jaw was a nerve-rich spot.
One hit could knock Bai Ci out, S-rank or not.

“Enough already!”

As Zero’s elbow connected, Bai Ci grabbed her hand and slammed another fist into her stomach.

The blow was heavy, nearly dropping Zero to the ground.

“It’s done.”
Zero touched her earpiece, struggling to support the unconscious girl.
“She was tough.
I can’t handle two at once.”