"Hmph... look at you showing off. Be careful you don't get taken down by me later!"
(So cold... my body feels so sluggish... are there any tools around to cool down? I wonder if fire butterflies will appear later... )
"Heh... then come and try it! Tracking Ice Shards!"
The ice cocoon suddenly became even colder, and two giant ice pillars, as thick as footballs, condensed beside it and shot towards Ying. They were incredibly fast, reaching her in the blink of an eye. Even though Ying dodged with all her might, a bright red gash was left on her abdomen...
"Hiss... these ice shards are not only faster but also track..." Ying clutched her abdomen, a pained expression on her face.
"What's wrong? Weren't you all tough just now? Show me some more of that toughness!"
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Innumerable ice shards instantly materialized around the ice cocoon and flew rapidly towards Ying, forcing her to move. Meanwhile, dozens of massive ice pillars formed in the air and descended, enveloping Ying like an icy prison.
"Hehehe... I'll see where else you can run?!"
(Damn it... there aren't even fire butterflies, and Skyward Blade was taken by Scaramouche just now. Even if I take out Deathmatch now, it's just a struggle before death and won't change the situation... How can I fight this!)
(Sigh... Scaramouche is right about one thing, I need to sow distrust between them to have a chance to escape, but that's clearly impossible...)
(Wait... I don't actually need them to distrust each other, I just need to make Scaramouche afraid to let me die on the spot...)
An idea flashed through her mind, and Ying immediately decided to stall the Signora first...
"Phew... alright, I admit I can't escape," Ying released her tightly clenched hands and said, facing the Signora.
"Oh? What other trick do you have up your sleeve?" The Signora withdrew from her ice cocoon form, instantly teleporting onto an ice pillar, looking down at Ying.
"No trick, I just want you to see the true face of that guy over there before you die."
(It seems the Signora has calmed down quite a bit... I guess she no longer dares to treat me like an insignificant bug in her heart...)
"Hmph... tell me,"
(That guy's recent actions have indeed been a bit strange, and this base also received information investigating him not long ago...)
Scaramouche watched the two from afar with a solemn expression, pondering silently.
(What trick is this girl up to... Were the documents inside not completely destroyed by me? Let's see for now...)
"Logically, this place is so hidden, it should be difficult to find. How do you think I found it?"
"Heh... by simply tracking down a fool who doesn't know how to conceal themselves," the Signora said disdainfully, looking at Ying.
"Hmm, that makes sense. But how did I manage to eliminate so many guards and head straight for the archives in such a short time? If I had discovered it by accident, I wouldn't be so familiar with this place, right?"
(Hehehe... talking too much can be used against you, foolish Scaramouche~)
"Oh? Continue..."
Although this girl has some strength... it's also impossible for her to evade the base's traps and mechanisms in such a short period of time...
"So, I'll propose a hypothesis here. What if I joined forces with someone from your side to destroy this place? Isn't that much more plausible than me barging in alone?"
"Hmph... you're quite eloquent..."
"Hehehe~ You flatter me."
(She took the bait... If Scaramouche dares to stop me now, it will confirm his guilt, and if he doesn't act, I can continue to throw the blame onto him...)
"So... do you have anything to say, Mr. Scaramouche..." The Signora looked at Scaramouche, who had already appeared opposite her, and asked playfully.
"Hehehe~ That's an interesting hypothesis. What, have you been convinced by her?"
"Hmph... Before that, please explain why you didn't go to Inazuma to control the situation. If your answer can't convince me, then I don't mind taking care of both you and her..."
"Mhm~ To take care of me, you'll need the strength for it. However... I'll play along. Why didn't I go to Inazuma? Because something very interesting is about to happen here soon, so I didn't want to go. That's all~"
"Oh? You say that so righteously, aren't you afraid of the Tsaritsa's wrath?"
"Hahaha~ That's very well put. Then how do you want me to prove myself?"
"It's simple. Prove that you and she are not working together. As for how to deal with her... heh... that's up to you~"
"?! "
(This guy... after calming down, she's not that stupid. So in the end, it's back to one-on-one again... and the opponent is that even more mysterious Scaramouche, who hasn't consumed any stamina at all...)
"Tsk tsk tsk... You actually want me to deal with this girl full of tricks. You've really given me a tough task~"
"Hmph... a little girl I've already beaten to a pulp. Don't tell me you can't handle her."
"Alright, alright~ I'll do it."
"Please go ahead..."
Scaramouche shook his head helplessly and teleported from the ice pillar to in front of Ying. He smiled as he looked at her and said,
"Did you hear that, little one? Don't blame me later, okay~"
"Hmph... sacrificing me to protect yourself, I understand, I understand~"
Ying pretended to be nonchalant on the surface, but internally, a storm was raging...
(What to do, what to do... I can't think of any way to escape from them... This five-star mission is too difficult, aaaaah!)
"Hehehe~ You still want me to take the blame even at this point? Since you're prepared to be sacrificed, don't blame me for not holding back!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Scaramouche's entire body instantly emitted a dark purple light. The aura he unleashed even made Ying involuntarily take a few steps back.
"What is this..."
Before Ying could react, Scaramouche had already appeared before her and swung Skyward Blade downwards.
So fast?!
Seeing that she couldn't dodge, Ying had no choice but to raise her hand and unleash a wind vortex sword to meet the attack. Although she successfully blocked Skyward Blade's strike, her own companion was split in two by the sword.
Seeing Ying block his attack, Scaramouche immediately delivered a heavy kick to Ying's abdomen. The force was so great that Ying's entire body was sent flying backward, crashing violently into an ice pillar.
With a "crack," the incredibly hard ice pillar actually cracked with several fissures. Ying was forcefully embedded into the ice pillar by the powerful impact.
"Ah!!!"
Ying, whose condition was already at its limit, felt dizzy and disoriented after taking this blow. She passed out in mid-air as she fell.
"This power is truly something to both love and hate~ So, what do you want me to do with her next?" Scaramouche's dark purple aura gradually faded, and he turned to face the Signora.
"Hmph... I told you, it's up to you to deal with her."
"Hehehe~ In that case... please inform the Childe later and tell him... the Honorary Knight's sister was killed by me..."