Smoke and dust stirred up by the fierce wind permeated the center of the battlefield, obscuring everyone's vision.
"Hoo... Ha... Ha..."
Fubuki knelt on the ground, her hands gripping her knees tightly, her body trembling slightly beyond her control.
Sweat slid down her delicate cheeks, soaking the black hair on her forehead and sticking to her skin.
"Flowing Snow Nendo Technique: Revolving Tempest" was a move she had uniquely created specifically to counter her older sister's Psychic Power.
This move, combined with two consecutive, unrestrained uses of "Hell Storm," had exhausted most of her stamina.
At this moment, she felt she barely had the strength left to stand up.
But she didn't relax in the slightest, her emerald eyes fixed intently on that area.
Was it a success?
Was her older sister injured? Even just a little bit?
A faint thread of hope rose in Fubuki's heart.
She knew her technique, "Flowing Snow Nendo Technique: Revolving Tempest," had certainly worked.
In that instant, she clearly felt a slight disturbance in Terrible Tornado's unfathomable Psychic Power.
The full-power strike she launched during that opening—even if it couldn't severely injure her sister—at the very least... it should have made her take things seriously, right?
She hoped to see, emerging from the dust, even the slightest hint of her sister's discomfiture.
That, for her, would be the greatest victory.
However, on the open ground far away, Lin Mo let out a soft sigh at this moment.
He had long seen through the barrier of dust and perceived the truth within.
"It seems the gap between these two sisters is extraordinarily large."
Fubuki's technique was exquisite, her timing impeccable, and she did indeed cause a momentary disturbance to Terrible Tornado.
But the fundamental difference lay in their level of Psychic Power.
As if to confirm Lin Mo's words.
A gentle breeze swept past, and the thick dust slowly dissipated.
In mid-air, the petite figure was clearly revealed once more.
Terrible Tornado remained suspended in place, still standing with her arms crossed.
Let alone injury, not a single speck of dust had touched the black, high-slit dress she was wearing.
She simply looked at Fubuki quietly, her face devoid of anger or mockery, instead carrying a contemplative expression.
The light in Fubuki's eyes completely dimmed the moment she saw this scene.
How could this be... An attack poured out with all her strength, betting everything she believed in—and the result is still this?
A tremendous sense of loss surged over her, threatening to overwhelm her completely.
Just as Fubuki plunged into despair, Terrible Tornado suddenly spoke.
"I take back what I said earlier."
Her voice was calm, lacking the aggressive demeanor she had shown before.
These sudden words startled Fubuki. She looked up, gazing at her older sister with confusion.
Terrible Tornado's lips curled into a slight, gratified smile.
"You've gotten stronger, Fubuki."
She slowly descended to the ground and walked toward Fubuki step by step. Her emerald eyes reflected her younger sister's stunned face.
"To think up a technique that disrupts the flow of an opponent's Psychic Power and seize the opportunity to counterattack—to achieve this level is already remarkable."
Terrible Tornado stopped in front of Fubuki, looked at her sister kneeling on the ground, and said gently:
"I, your older sister, am very happy."
This sudden praise caused Fubuki's mind to momentarily crash.
Th-This... is she praising me?
How long had it been since she last heard her sister's praise? Since she could remember, perhaps never?
A warm current uncontrollably surged through her heart, and Fubuki's eyes turned slightly red.
The long-suppressed grievances and resentment in her heart seemed to find some comfort at this moment.
She was excited, even a little incoherent, and she asked tentatively, her lips trembling, "Then, does this mean you won't interfere with my life anymore?"
"And you won't interfere with the Blizzard Group's matters either?"
She looked at Terrible Tornado full of anticipation, waiting for the answer that would grant her complete freedom.
However, what she received was the slow fading of the smile on Terrible Tornado's face.
"No, Fubuki."
Terrible Tornado's voice became cold again.
This sudden turn made Fubuki's heart sink, and an ominous premonition enveloped her.
Terrible Tornado looked at her sister's instantly pale face and, in a tone that suggested it was only natural, uttered words that chilled Fubuki to the bone.
"Before, I was worried that making those companions around you disappear would hurt you, that you wouldn't be able to handle the shock and would break down."
"But seeing you like this now, I feel relieved."
A faint smile reappeared on Terrible Tornado's face.
She took a step forward, and that suffocating Intimidation descended once more.
"The current you possesses a sufficiently strong will. In that case, even if you lose those so-called 'companions,' you should be able to bear it, right?"
Fubuki's pupils suddenly contracted. She looked at her older sister in disbelief.
So... so the praise just now was actually for this?!
"Then I will completely take away your bonds from your side!"
Every word from Terrible Tornado seemed to turn into an ice pick, piercing violently into Fubuki's heart.
"Whether heroes or factions, those trivial things will only become your burdens, obstructing you from becoming stronger."
"Only by severing these unnecessary connections can you truly rely on yourself!"
"Before that..."
Terrible Tornado's gaze turned completely cold. She slowly raised her hand, aiming it at Fubuki, who was frozen in shock.
"You should get some good sleep first, Fubuki."
The instant her words fell, a massive wave of Psychic Power, like an invisible colossal mountain, crashed down!
"Ugh!"
Fubuki didn't even have time to react; she was violently slammed into the ground by the force!
Boom!!!
The ground cracked, and a distinct human-shaped crater appeared on the open space.
Fubuki lay at the bottom of the pit, feeling as if all the bones in her body had shattered. The intense pain prevented her from moving even a single finger, and her consciousness began to blur.
Terrible Tornado took a step, slowly walked to the edge of the crater, and looked down at Fubuki from above, her eyes showing no emotion whatsoever.
"Sleep peacefully, Fubuki. When you wake up, everything will be over."
"I will help you clean up those wastes who are dragging you down."
However, just then.
"You are not allowed to lay a hand on the Leader!!!"
An angry roar came from not far away.
Terrible Tornado tilted her head slightly, seeing that the members of the Blizzard Group she had casually knocked unconscious earlier had somehow woken up.
Led by Eyelash and Mountain Ape, the B-Class Heroes—who were like ants in her eyes—were now covered in wounds and ragged clothes.
But every single one of them, though stumbling, was charging toward them with unwavering determination.
In their eyes, there was no fear of facing the S-Class Rank 2, only the resolve and fury to protect their Leader.
"Leader Fubuki!"
"We are here to protect you!"
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