Chapter 169. Blazing Breakthrough

Celeste’s POV

My duel with Lira raged on, even after I had destroyed my own clone. Now I found myself battling both Lira and Seline at once. Still, I’d uncovered something useful about Lira’s black magic: it could be turned back against her. All I needed was the chance to channel my energy into her gambit—if only Seline would stop blocking my path.

“Stay away from Luna!” Seline shrieked, raising her arm skyward. In a swift motion she flung a massive boulder directly at me. I leapt back, my cloak of magic shimmering, barely avoiding the jagged stone as it crashed against the earth. The shockwave rattled my bones.

It suddenly struck me: both of these sorceresses must have consumed human hearts to reach such formidable power. My stomach churned at the thought. How dare they commit such a heinous, taboo act for mere strength? True power demanded discipline, unyielding effort, and relentless training—not cannibalism.

Suppressing my revulsion, I hissed throu