Once the affection level is maxed out, the rivalry begins!

At the critical moment, the White Knight did not forcefully fire the arrow he had prepared. Instead, he twisted his golden longbow and used it as a shield to block Bai Ze's slash.

The plague that surrounded Him, which killed any living creature that touched it, was driven away by the blade of judgment, but the golden longbow, which had a physical form, was not so easily cut down.

The sword blade collided with the bow arm, and a near-tangible shockwave exploded out in a ring, the roar like thunder traveling through the clouds.

The White Knight clearly had no intention of continuing close combat. Using the recoil to bounce himself off, he regained his balance, drew another arrow from the quiver beside the saddle, and nocked it.

How could I let you get away so easily?

Bai Ze had thought it through clearly: high in the sky, if the opponent were to create distance and roam while shooting, he would definitely be at a disadvantage.

Even if one is immune to the plague-infected arrows and is extremely lucky enough to block every shot, one will eventually be worn down and die.

The key to winning a battle lies in entering the realm of close-quarters combat!

Now their relative positions have returned to the state where he is falling to the ground below and the White Knight is floating in the air above, but the distance between them has been greatly reduced.

Bai Ze once again applied the Impact Curse to himself from the side, narrowly avoiding an arrow that resembled lightning. At the same time, he transformed the Judgment Blade, which was in the form of a two-handed sword, into the shape of the silk thread he used most often, and then swung it out forcefully!

The silvery threads sprang out like a chameleon's tongue, tightly binding the left foreleg of the white horse beneath the knight!

Bright red blood seeped out, dripping and creating countless maggots and shadows. The white horse neighed and struggled, raising its front hooves in an attempt to escape the demonic silver threads.

But this action only accelerated Bai Ze's approach, pulling him towards the White Knight like a fish caught by a fisherman!

The knights, attempting to disrupt him, unleashed a barrage of arrows, but the price of sacrificing their charging power was that Bai Ze could barely keep up with the speed of the arrows!

The blade threads that remained by his side intertwined and danced like nimble tentacles, deflecting the rain of arrows with each impact that shook the air.

He could even occasionally use the bundle of blades to catch an arrow and throw it back along its original trajectory!

Although the plague and curses cannot affect the White Knight himself, he still has to deflect attacks that are physically powerful enough to penetrate his defenses, thus delaying the efficiency of his shooting.

In just a few seconds of attack and defense, Bai Ze had already been pulled up to a similar height by the opponent's mount.

He unleashed the shock curse on himself for the third time.

His entire body seemed to be violently shaking—after all, this was a negative curse, and forcibly using it as a movement technique would naturally backfire.

But it's still worth it.

Like a rocket shedding its final booster, for a moment Bai Ze did indeed surpass the knight's height.

He stepped on the neck of the tall white horse, looking down at the rider in the saddle.

"Let's fall together."

The threads gathered and reformed into a silver-white blade in his palm.

Bai Ze forcefully plunged the Blade of Judgment into the horse's neck.

The sound of bones shattering was clearly audible, dark red blood gushed out like a fountain, countless poisonous creatures were born and destroyed within it, and dark centipedes spread through the air like dark clouds.

Such a large-scale plague could not be completely eradicated even by the Blade of Judgment.

Upon just a slight contact, Bai Ze felt his blood boiling, his consciousness seemingly soaring to the heavens, dissolving into one with some great, churning being, and his brain seemed to be being stirred into a daze.

—I must regain consciousness.

The blade of judgment, now one with him, echoed his instinctive thoughts, transforming into silver nails that pierced his flesh.

Because he is maintaining a Kamen Rider-like armored form, it's like the punishment of the Iron Maiden.

Fortunately, as the pain overwhelmed his entire body, the curse that had almost melted his spirit was also expelled.

Bai Ze drew his sword and blocked the knight's sweeping attack with his bow.

If you are even a fraction of a second too slow to react, you will be mercilessly sent flying.

The severely damaged white horse was no longer able to fly and could only barely slow its descent.

But its owner showed no unease, maintaining an expression of certainty of victory.

He used his longbow as a weapon to block Bai Ze's counterattack.

The silver blade clashed against the golden bow, each impact producing a loud clang, sparks flying outwards with the vibrations in the air.

This undoubtedly exacerbated the burden on the white horses, which were serving as a narrow battleground for the two, as they accelerated their descent.

In the distance, the faint sound of thunderous explosions could be heard.

—We've almost reached the intended location.

Bai Ze intensified his offensive—even facing the enormous disadvantage of being mounted on horseback and fighting in close combat with his bow arm, the White Knight managed to hold out for dozens of rounds before being knocked away by the explosion of [Flesh and Blood Resonance].

But a smile appeared on his human-like face.

The moment the golden longbow left his hands, the remaining arrows in the quiver transformed into thorns and shot out.

Bai Ze's attack, intended to decapitate his opponent, was firmly restrained, and the force he unleashed was so great that he was unable to break free for a time.

The thorns that had entangled the blade continued to grow, covering his left hand that was now holding the sword, wrapping around his body and legs along his upper arm, and strangling him like a gallows.

In just a moment, the situation of victory or defeat was completely reversed.

At this moment, only Bai Ze's right hand was not yet entangled by the thorns. Even though the Blade of Judgment was not bound by any particular form, it could not cause effective damage when he could not exert force throughout his body.

Therefore, the White Knight, summoned by Yin Chen, spoke with absolute certainty for the first time.

"There is no need to be ashamed of myself, for I am a symbol of certain victory."

"So you mean losing to you isn't shameful, right?"

Bai Ze retorted with trash talk, "But do you know why I cooperated with you to move the battlefield outside?"

"The outcome is already decided; everything else is trivial."

Following the original mythological setting, aside from the fact that the plague also symbolizes the knight of victory and domination, he will inevitably maintain an arrogant attitude towards humanity.

He recalled the longbow that had been knocked away earlier and slowly drew back the bowstring at close range.

"Because I've been waiting for this moment."

Bai Ze opened his right hand and caught the crimson spear that flew towards him like a meteor.

They have fallen a considerable distance from a great height.

In other words, it's closer to the place where the two witches fought than to Yin Chen.

This is why Bai Ze took the initiative to change locations.

Lu Xingyao goes without saying, and even Lin Tingwan, who doesn't know their true identities, would definitely prioritize the overall situation and choose to help eliminate Yin Chen, the greatest threat to humanity, when she discovers that he is engaged in an abnormal battle summoned by Yin Chen Xing.

According to the additional information provided by Rhea, the witch's compatibility with Shang Yinchen is extremely unfavorable.

Looking back now, since the latter is an "anomaly that grants trials to humanity," it probably has characteristics such as only humans can pass the test.

Anything outside of humanity must be prevented from entering the trial.

What if he were to wield the weapon imbued with the witch's full power?

Although he had never spoken to them, he was certain that if a crisis were to eventually break out, it would develop into a situation similar to what it is now.

Because he trusted his junior schoolmate and childhood sweetheart.

Therefore—the outcome is already decided.

Bai Ze used his only functional right hand to thrust out a crimson demonic spear that brought a terrifying sense of heaviness!

The gun blade sliced ​​through the air, igniting a nearly transparent flame.

Crimson and cyan magic intertwined into a spiral, with dragon-like ribbons of light trailing behind the gun, resembling a shawl that changed colors.

For the first time, the pale knight who seemed to have stepped out of mythology wavered.

He hastily fired the newly generated arrow, which transformed into a thorny bush exuding cursed poison during its flight, colliding with the spear tip that Bai Ze had extended.

But the previous battle had also taken its toll on him, let alone at such close range.

So, after only a brief stalemate, the drill-like spiral continued its relentless advance, slowly churning through the thicket of thorns and clearing a path with flames.

Amidst the thunderous roar of a millstone spinning, the heat of the crossbow distorted the air, eventually pressing against the White Knight's chest.

Ding--

A phantom sound like shattering glass rang out as the gun blade pierced through the body, followed by the two streams of magic that had been constricted to their limit suddenly exploding!

Cracks climbed up the White Knight's body, and lightning-like light shot out in all directions. One of the beams swept across the Train Tower and cut it in half.

In the end, the opponent, along with the white horse beneath their feet, turned into specks of light.

A portion of it flowed into Bai Ze's body, and the parchment scroll seemed to convey new clues.

But he doesn't have time to read it yet.

After the white horse and thorns disappeared, he plummeted downwards, and the cross-shaped spear slipped from his hand.

Fortunately, he was caught from behind not long after.

"Senior! The wormwood is collapsing; it's probably because you defeated that thing."

Lu Xingyao's slightly weary voice reached his ears. Like a legendary sword immortal, she stepped on the flying sword provided by the core lady and pulled him back.

Standing a distance away from her, Lin Tingwan floated warily in the air, her brows slightly furrowed.

...She thought she heard a strange name?