"Sword Art - Falling Blossoms!"
The edgeless giant sword transformed into a streak of light, piercing through the air with a deafening sonic boom.
"Hahaha! Kevin, our warm-up is almost done. Now, witness my true power! Go!"
"Might of An-Utu - Come forth!"
Amidst shattered fragments of floating islands, Kevin stood atop a massive rock, brushing off debris from the collapsing landscape. With a gesture, flames raced towards him from the depths of darkness.
"Boom!"
A blazing crimson Greatsword deflected the incoming flying sword infused with immense force. However, Kevin frowned slightly.
'If it's called "Falling Blossoms"...it shouldn't be just a single attack. Not only does she insist on announcing her moves, but using names that hint at their nature? Perhaps still too inexperienced?'
Kevin mentally noted this while heightening his focus, eager to directly experience Fu Hua's capabilities. The outcome of this battle wasn't crucial; what mattered was gauging Fu Hua's specific abilities and limits. This would prepare him strategically for potential future conflicts.
In the next instant, black feathers suddenly filled the air around Kevin, cascading towards him from all directions.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
An explosion unleashed vast amounts of Honkai Energy with each feather, generating destructive shockwaves that radiated outward in waves.
However, physical damage alone posed little threat to Kevin, causing minimal harm. MANTIS operatives generally possess astonishing vitality and recovery rates, enabling them to fully heal within moments.
What truly troubled Kevin were the psychic shocks emanating from those dark feathers. Despite his strong will, he lacked expertise in dealing with such attacks. Confronted by wave after wave of psychic assaults, even Kevin experienced brief moments of disorientation, his thoughts momentarily blanking.
Seizing this fleeting opportunity, "Fu Hua," enveloped in ominous black mist, appeared menacingly before Kevin, her greatsword descending heavily.
Frowning, Kevin hastily raised his own blade to meet hers.
"Clang—"
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Struggling to block the direct blow with his Greatsword, Kevin was sent reeling backward by the impact, shattering chunks of floating island debris.
"Ha ha ha! Welt's strength manifests only in large-scale battles, Durandal is still too inexperienced, and the Herrscher Squads are far from formidable. And who knows how long it's been since Zeke last truly fought? Among today's heroes, only you, Kevin, and I can boast true martial prowess... But there can be no tie between the strongest and second-strongest; we must ultimately determine who stands above the other, right? The answer will be revealed this very day!"
As these bold words echoed, the surrounding air abruptly heated up, causing countless suspended rocks before "Fu Hua" to melt instantly.
Kevin charged back like a blazing meteor, wielding the Greatsword of Destruction.
"Fu Hua" grinned widely, laughing uncontrollably as she raised her heavy sword to meet him head-on.
BOOM!!!
In their most intense clash yet, Su's meticulously prepared floating island battlefield finally disintegrated completely, leaving behind nothing but empty void space.
A crimson blaze illuminating half the world clashed with an ominous aura saturating the surroundings, briefly facing off on this battleground.
Then followed relentless exchanges of blows.
"Haha! This is exhilarating! Exhilarating indeed! Only you, Kevin, could push me to unleash my full power without restraint!"
"You're incredibly strong."
"What's with the small talk? You've got more to give, don't you? Show me your true abilities!"
"As you wish."
"Boom!!"
Each clash was a fleeting exchange of sword techniques, and Fu Hua's martial prowess repeatedly left minor wounds on Kevin.
Yet, Kevin remained unfazed. He did not rely solely on skill nor concern himself with injuries that could be healed instantly. Instead, he swung his sword relentlessly—once, twice, thrice—with increasing amounts of Honkai Energy channeled through it, causing the Greatsword of Destruction to grow ever hotter. All it would take is one successful strike, just one, for Kevin to reverse all his disadvantages in close combat.
"Bang!"
In another display of brute force, "Fu Hua," gritting her teeth, found herself forced backward.
Kevin stood mid-air, flipped his blade, enveloped by searing flames capable of melting everything, and emotionlessly pursued her.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
With each collision, "Fu Hua" was steadily pushed back as Kevin surged forward, unstoppable.
As she stubbornly resisted, "Fu Hua" searched for openings while regretting her momentary carelessness. By confronting Kevin head-on using her weaker attribute of raw strength, she had inadvertently placed herself at a disadvantage.
Within the consciousness domain, Fu Hua and Su—concerned enough to observe through a sliver of his thoughts—sat facing each other, both shaking their heads.
"This child is about to lose."
"Yes, she's too impulsive. Even I wouldn't dare engage Kevin head-on with brute strength. By leveraging her mastery of martial arts and combining it with unpredictable psychic attacks, taking cautious steps and maintaining stability, victory might still be within reach. Instead, attempting to overpower Kevin from the start squandered much of her energy. Once Kevin counterattacks, it'll be too late."
"Hua, don't set such high expectations. We both know Kevin's caliber, while this girl, in some ways, remains as naive and inexperienced as an infant... On the contrary, if we can guide her on the right path, her potential is limitless!"
"Indeed, being a Herrscher of consciousness, there's untapped potential for the Void Sword Divinity under her control. So, Su, do you have any ideas on how to approach her?"
Fu Hua no longer focused on the ongoing battle outside—even though that body was hers.
Su scratched his face, helplessly shaking his head.
"I don't have such peculiar experience either; I've never considered how to counsel a Herrscher who believes they're Fu Hua... In any case, don't look at me—I'm truly helpless here."
"You're right; you would have mentioned it earlier if you had any ideas."
"Hmm, perhaps let the Book of Fuxi try persuading her? From what I've seen, she seems to hold that child in high regard."
"Little Fuxi? Yes, we should give it a shot. Only she might be able to fully rein in such a spirited temperament. Let me think carefully about this—it's crucial not to mishandle such promising potential. It would indeed be a great loss if something went wrong."
Fu Hua sighed with concern.
Su nodded in agreement.
As someone inherently open-minded and compassionate, Su had already accepted the existence of human-aligned outliers after encountering Kiana. The current Herrscher of Sentience appeared to have significant potential for guidance onto the righteous path. If successfully achieved, it could substantially enhance humanity's combat capabilities.
"If there's anything more needed, feel free to reach out anytime. I'll constantly monitor your changes, and as long as you call for me within your consciousness domain, I will hear."
"All right, thank you in advance, Su."
The battle's outcome did not deviate from what the two veterans had anticipated. It concluded with "Fu Hua" weakly releasing her grip on the sword, battered and bruised, plummeting through the void.
"Damn it... My strategy faltered..." Murmuring in frustration, those crimson eyes watched as the empty gray sky transformed back into the clear blue skies she first encountered.
Moments later, "Fu Hua" gently landed on the soft grass, the concealed blade within its heavy scabbard lying nearby, too drained to reach for it again.
"Strong in many aspects, but lacking in composure—just not calm enough," Kevin remarked mildly. He leaned his greatsword against the table edge, took a seat, accepted the tea Su offered, and downed it in one gulp.
With a slight smile, Su shook his head and approached "Fu Hua," offering her some refreshing tea as well.
"Fu Hua" waved dismissively, feeling disheartened. "No thanks, I'm too upset to drink. I clearly had the advantage; I just didn't use it effectively!"
"A loss is a loss. No matter how frustrated you are, don't neglect your body." The voice wasn't Su's—it was the Book of Fuxi speaking.
Gently floating up to Fu Hua's chest level, with hands tucked within her sleeves, Book of Fuxi descended and stood on a soft area. Her delicate snow-white feet sank slightly into it.
"...Sorry, I couldn't win against him. Next time, next time I won't lose!"
"Why apologize to me? I never asked you to win. Lord Kevin was humanity's strongest fifty thousand years ago, so naturally, he has only become more formidable over time. It doesn't matter if you win or not; just don't push your body too far."
"Little Fuxi, you really doubt my ability to triumph?"
"Well, isn't that how things turned out?" The Book of Fuxi nonchalantly replied, shifting her weight from one foot to the other and then hopping lightly, assessing both her height and the view below. Hmm, rather than focusing on winning, she found satisfaction in noticing Fu Hua's gradual growth—no longer as impoverished as when they first met.
"Now reaching somewhere between B to C cup size, just continue maintaining adequate nutrition intake... At their peak, immortals truly have quite impressive assets," the Book of Fuxi murmured to herself, stroking her chin while contemplating potential improvements to the dietary plan. As Fu Hua's dedicated caretaker, ensuring such matters was her primary mission!
The Book of Fuxi murmured to itself, stroking its chin as it contemplated upgrading the menu's possibilities. As Fu Hua's dedicated caretaker, ensuring her well-being was truly its paramount mission!
Naturally, the dejected "Fu Hua" couldn't miss this whispered comment nearby, and her expression instantly contorted.
Shaking off her feelings of defeat, she lifted her newly regained strength with both hands, gently grasping the shoulders of the Book of Fuxi.
"Fuxi, you little rascal!"
["Fuxi, you little rascal!"]
Her indignant scream echoed far and wide across the grasslands outside, simultaneously resonating within Fu Hua's consciousness domain.