It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

At this critical moment, the dimmed ice magic circle lit up again, as if rekindled from ashes. Katie raised her right hand and continued her chant.

How could she not know she couldn't freeze to the surface of the lake? During the battle with the Ice Witch, it was she who had identified Claire's presence based on the lake's unique features. Katie's true goal, of course, was to exploit this lake, which seemed to hold a form of liquid magic.

Anyone with a modicum of magical proficiency would understand that the water in this lake was incredibly dense in magical energy. It could even be said that it was so pure that only magic remained, with the presence of water being minimal.

The problem was that the lake's control was always controlled by Cress through special means. Ordinary magic wouldn't have been able to create such a massive waterspout over the lake.

So Katie conveniently used the liquid magic that had almost no attributes.

By infusing the magic with ice, she could re-attribute the magic power without conflicting with the "water." By transforming the lake water into ice, she could transcend the limitations of Claire and mobilize the lake water under her influence.

Of course, the range Katie could influence with her ice was minuscule compared to the vast lake. But the already surging waters, coupled with this waterspout... Even though the magic power of the ice was so thin in the lake, even a tiny trace was enough.

Although it was unexpected, the ending was perfect for Katie. Although her heart was silent and she felt no joy, her face, which had become stiff from the continuous chanting, relaxed slightly.

A ferocious water tornado, carrying a mysterious and profound murderous intent, rushed towards Katie. Unfortunately, a large amount of lake water had already been mixed into its composition. Sensing something was amiss, Chris quickly raised her staff, attempting to maintain the shape of her magic.

Unfortunately, the lake's magical power was too strong. Katie closed her eyes and spread her hands across her chest. By consuming her magic and dissolving the lake's magical power, she easily dissipated the waterspout. Eight streams of water light each rushed towards the newly completed magic circle behind Katie, disappearing into thin air.

A large amount of water overflowed from the magic circle, instantly extinguishing even the flames that Kress had unleashed through the spell. Slowly, the water droplets coalesced into a humanoid figure, slightly taller than Katie. It held a longsword and slowly walked forward.

Katie was stunned for a moment when she saw the human figure, then began to cast spells to keep herself calm.

I originally wanted to create an incarnation in the form of the Ice Witch, but I didn't expect you to come.

That’s right, the magical incarnation she condensed into was, in appearance, her sister, Klein.

A bright and resolute smile, a seemingly thin figure, and an incredibly reliable arm. The only difference was that the plain clothes had been replaced with exquisite light armor. This was Katie's impression of her sister, her predecessor, the one she pursued, her guardian knight, her most reliable person.

She couldn't stop her tears from flowing, but she quickly wiped them away while completing a spell.

My sister is here, how can I continue to embarrass myself? Wouldn’t this make her worry?

Chris had lost count of how many times she had been struck by the little girl before her. Whether it was her use of the lake water or the speed with which she had completed the puppet, it was beyond her imagination.

So much time had passed, and she had never considered that the lake's nature would be altered and exploited by others. A king who takes too much comfort will always have his fangs and claws blunted. And the avatar, having completed so quickly, possessed several stable magic arrays, which truly impressed her.

At that moment, Chrissy internally acknowledged Katie's victory. Perhaps due to laziness, or perhaps due to underestimation of her opponent, the former witch internally accepted her own technical defeat.

But even though she admitted it, her body still refused to give in. She raised the staff, tightly clenched, from in front of her.

He didn't try to build momentum by relying on others, but simply wanted to prove that his long-standing pride in magic was not just a figment of his imagination.

There is no need for too much purpose, just casting spells for the sake of casting spells is enough.

Katie's magic power was nearly depleted. Theoretically, she couldn't possibly cast so many spells in a split second. Even if she had enough, there was a limit to how much she could output at once. It was like the water pipes in a swimming pool; the water had to be drained out slowly through the pipes.

However, the lake's capacity for magical power was beyond her imagination. Katie poured most of her magic power into the liquid that formed her incarnation. Impressive magic circles were all completed in that instant, rapidly depleting her magic power.

For both parties, the last spell in every sense has begun.

The summoned avatar possessed its own spirituality. While without Katie's control, it could only use certain melee abilities, it was still sufficient for harassment. Klein's water shadow instantly leaped in front of Claire and thrust his sword.

But surprisingly, Kress wasn't hit. She didn't stop chanting, but instead blocked the attack with her staff. She had truly controlled the Ice Witch, and her melee combat skills were also hers.

The staff flickered like a flash, tapping Klein several times. However, his opponent's body was made of liquid after all, so instead of breaking, it coiled around Klein like a python. The moment it was wrapped around her, her body trembled, and she intensified her chanting.

That was because the water had begun to break through the magical barrier she had set up and was invading her body. This spell had to be completed before she was suffocated by the water.

A vast amount of light began to swirl around Claire, like stars surrounding the moon, layer upon layer forming one meticulously arranged ring of light after another. Gradually, the prototypes of the seven formations took shape. Streams of life-giving magic infused them, and they gradually began to take shape.

Katie, on the other hand, still exuded the familiar divine aura. This was the most powerful damage-dealing magic she had ever mastered, and she had immense faith in this trinity of compound spells.

The first one to complete the spell was Katie.

Perhaps it was because the scene was too grand, or perhaps it was because Klein had blocked Chris's spell...

It is recommended to use the bgm "Forget the Other Side" (Zu Jianzhengqing) with the Ice Witch Battle. This battle will end in the next chapter.

The setting of the baboon has entered my mind a little. Now when I write the book, I am thinking about how to avoid suspicion. But now that I have written it, I will not think about it anymore. I might as well write more as a tribute, hahaha

Chapter 55 Domination - Ice Forest

This time, Katie's casting speed was slightly faster. A fierce white light burst out from the magic circle in front of her again, and it was about to reach Chris. At this critical moment, Chris finally replenished the contents of the magic circle.

A large amount of light green light overflowed from the magic circle, like particles of life dripping from the light, falling into Katie's white light like a stone sinking into the sea, but soon an unexpected development took place.

The destructive holy light slowly transformed into falling petals and green leaves, landing on the ground, adding a bit of vitality to the dead forest.

Katie's light was exhausted. The opponent had created seven magic circles in total, but she could see that only one spell existed at the core. For now, she should save her own enhancement effect and wait and see.

After all, the incarnation of water had already launched its suffocating attack. Breaking through Chris's defense was only a matter of time, and the most important thing was not to lose consciousness.

Seven magic circles overlapped, rising to the same height in an instant. The smaller circle surrounding the innermost circle began to spin. A noble aura gilded this vitality, its gears driving the flow of magic. A vast amount of magic accumulated into a magnificent radiance, instantly enveloping the entire circle, concealing it within.

The previously green leaves were also drawn upward, like a planetary belt of meteorites, transforming into a lunar ring that began to revolve around the spherical light. Life stirred, magic gathered, yet a sense of unease lingered.

Katie looked up at the sphere fearlessly, fully convinced that if she made any suspicious moves, the gathering magic circle would punish her.

I don't know what kind of spell it is, nor how powerful it is. I can only fight back with the small strengthening spells I have.

She clenched her fists and leaped high with a leaping ability beyond her physical capabilities. Her normally innocuous body, now imbued with explosive power under the spell, her fists, shrouded in magic, seemed to possess ample destructive power. However, compared to the magic ball, it was still far from enough.

It doesn't matter.

I don’t care what the consequences will be if I throw this punch.

Even if his body died, as long as he could inhabit his incarnation with his divine consciousness and continuously improve his body, it would be enough to pay tribute to Bai Lin and Klein. As long as he was still alive, they would probably be satisfied.

Without hesitation, he punched out. The magic sphere, still barely formed, was prematurely released. A fierce light erupted from the collision of fist and spell. The entire forest began to tremble at this light. Compared to the previous icy eclipse, it was more like a storm sweeping across the forest.

After all, for this ice forest, isn't green vitality another form of destruction?

Green spreads life, while gold incinerates it. This is a spell that wields life willfully, which is why it requires seven magic circles to activate it. Power always comes at a price.

The light, powerful enough to envelop the entire forest, and the power of the explosion's core were self-evident. Even Chris, standing nearby, had no idea whether Katie was alive or dead. She wrestled back control of the lake at the last moment, shielding herself and dispelling the water's manifestation from her body.

What a formidable opponent! Chris was still reeling from the suffocating feeling that spread throughout her body. She glanced at the small scratch on her abdomen caused by the light, but her depleted magical power had left her without the strength to repair the wound.

Sighing, the once mighty elf sat on the ground, laughing at his own embarrassment.

Winning was so difficult... In the end, I still had to rely on the power of the lake water. It seems I should go back and practice...

Strange.

Why is my abdomen so hot?

The answer is magic.

Amidst the bursts of light, Katie's third circle, long obscured by the lake's magical power, reacted directly to the lake's mobilization. Searing pain tormented her internal organs, and even that tiny scratch ignited her instinctive reaction to heat and pain.

That is, screaming out in pain.

Amidst the explosion, only she could hear the mere sound of her screams. Embracing regret and pain, she collapsed to the ground helplessly, allowing the white holy flames to gradually strip away her consciousness.

I'm really old. I've seen this trick before, but I was careless at the last moment.

So that final punch was to infuse her magic power into the spell? This is your complete victory, Katie.

-

After about two or three seconds, the light slowly faded, and the disheveled figure of a war's cause, and also an outsider to it, appeared at the lake's edge. The already damaged armor looked even more tattered, with traces of plants taking root and breaking through the soil, and then of complete incineration.

Even her helmet had been broken in two, falling to the ground as she slowly paced. Wearing the tattered armor, she surveyed the devastated battlefield. Most of the lifeless ice trees had been reduced to scorched earth. Kress lay dying, but Bai Lin still anxiously searched for another figure.

Suddenly, the sacred tree broke out of the lake. The sudden appearance of such a huge creature obviously frightened Bai Lin, but he was more concerned about Katie who was hanging on a branch of the sacred tree.

After its treatment and the nourishment of the lake water, her body had been restored from being completely battered, but her eyes were still closed, perhaps because she was tired. Bai Lin hurried forward, and the sacred tree also delivered Katie to her arms in time.

Claire glared fiercely at the sacred tree that was healing her, as if blaming it for not coming to heal her first. After a moment, she slowly stood up, used magic to restore her clothes, and walked to Bai Lin's side.

She patted Bai Lin's shoulder with a pale face and said, "Your girlfriend is really strong."

Bai Lin's face was as gloomy as water. She glanced at Chris and asked, "What did you do to her?"

Chris glared back, "How dare you ask? It's been so long, and no one knows you can come back to life. You're taking your anger out on me."

"Instead of questioning me here, you should think about how to apologize when she wakes up later."

Bai Lin was stunned. She recalled what Chris had just said...

What? Katie doesn't know she's immortal?

Chapter 56 The Battle Ends

It's over, then she just...

"She was about to fight me to the death just now." As if seeing through Bai Lin's thoughts, Chris nodded and replied with an expression of "take care of yourself."

Bai Lin let out a long sigh. It doesn’t matter if you’re angry or something, as long as you’re fine.

This was also his own fault. He had wanted to bring it up several times before but was afraid it would worry her, so he put it off. Over time, Bai Lin had forgotten about it and assumed Katie already knew about it. And then this slip-up happened today...

Just as she was thinking this, Katie slowly opened her eyes with some difficulty, and the first words she saw from Bai Lin were a familiar scene.

"Is this... heaven?"

Bai Lin smiled bitterly and said, "No, you are still alive, and I am not dead either."

"Is that so..." Katie remained silent for two seconds. She slowly stepped out of Bai Lin's arms, then opened her eyes wide and glanced at Bai Lin, who was wearing scrap metal. Katie reached out a hand and stroked Bai Lin's cheek, while Bai Lin lowered his head and did not resist.

"It's good that I'm okay, it's good that I'm okay..." Katie muttered softly. In this relatively harmonious atmosphere, Chris tilted her head, coughed twice, and interrupted with this sentence:

"Bai Lin will be resurrected, so she is fine now."

Bai Lin, who had been relatively calm, paled. She glared at Chris fiercely, as if to say, "How cruel." Chris shamelessly put her hands behind her back, acting as if it had nothing to do with her, and quickly left the scene.

Anyway, she will know sooner or later.

Katie said "Oh" for two seconds in a daze, and then she immediately reacted.

"What???"

Perhaps the question wasn't loud, but to Bai Lin, it was as deafening as her mother's scolding from childhood. Calmness quietly left her, leaving only panic. She quickly opened her arms, wanting to hold Katie's hand and explain, but she was met with a barrage of punches.

"Do you know how worried I am about you??"

A punch landed on Bai Lin's chest, causing Katie's palm to sting. Bai Lin quickly took out his taskbar and put on softer leather armor...

"Know, know."

"You know what? You didn't tell me such an important thing. I..."

Bai Lin was losing ground against Katie. At first, she'd even said a few words in agreement, but then she fell silent. She was like a human punching bag, crouching in the corner with her hands over her head, accepting the beatings and scolding.

At the end of her scolding, Katie threw herself into Bai Lin's arms and cried. Perhaps Katie was a very calm and mature wise person. But when she was in front of her beloved, Katie was just an affectionate girl, afraid of leaving and hating separation.

This was the first time Bai Lin saw her cry so loudly. When Klein left before, Katie had already cried before she arrived.

This time, since it was really his problem, he had to comfort her. Bai Lin gently stroked Katie's back, as if soothing a frightened kitten. He let her tears fall on him without even a scratch.

That's what she should do.

After she cried all her tears, Katie escaped from Bai Lin's arms. Before she knew it, Chris was already looking at the two of them with a sly grin.

"Do you know that you look cheap now?" Bai Lin said angrily.

"Really? I think it's okay." Chrissy put on a serious expression and threw out a pendant.

"You deserve this."

"What is this...?" Bai Lin took the pendant and asked with a puzzled look.

Kress pointed to the far end of the forest. "If one of you wears this, your vision will no longer be restricted by the wind and snow. This is the purpose of the Ice Witch's existence. Only those who pass her trials are qualified to explore the snowfields."

Bai Lin nodded, not quite understanding, and then realized that the topic was not right...

What I mean is, we can get this just by defeating the Ice Witch. So, this Chris just fought with me and Katie on purpose to make things difficult for us, right?

Lifting her head, Bai Lin saw that mysterious smile, and could only express her anger with her eyes. The other party, on the other hand, showed no sign of embarrassment at all, and acted like a solemn NPC who had just appeared.

The forest's ruler, sitting atop the sacred tree, looked down at the two. "Alright, is there anything else you want to ask me? If not, please leave now. It's still very cold here, and it's not appropriate for you humans to stay here for long."

Katie, who had been silent the entire time, spoke up. "I have a question. You're so powerful, so why are you in charge of such a small ice forest? This is clearly different from my understanding of the world."

Chris stroked her chin and said, "Little girl, you're right. I do have some special reasons for being here... Considering how long ago you moved here, you don't know the past of this place."

"Can you tell me about it?" Katie asked persistently.

Chris nodded and began to tell the story as the narrator...

This is a story from a long time ago.

About four hundred years ago, this area was nothing more than a lush, natural forest, and the nearby snow-capped mountains were just ordinary hills. After the devastating "natural disaster," this area was no longer suitable for its original inhabitants. Countless elves perished in the snowy plains, and only a few managed to escape...

This is roughly the story of Claire, who studied in a secluded middle school for many years and is the elf queen in name only. She returns to her hometown despite the opposition of her tribe.