The warship's frame turned into a rain of fire. Wreckage plummeted from the sky. The flying warship "Taixu-hao" blossomed into the most beautiful firework on the battlefield.
At the same time.
If he weren't incapable of facial expressions, Lu Xing, who was braced for battle, would have found his facial muscles absolutely frozen stiff at this moment—
"Your level has increased to Lv.44."
A system notification sounded in his mind.
However, the level increase wasn't entirely due to the preceding battle; the ever-increasing, vast and interconnected points of light within Lu Xing's spiritual world also played a part.
In an extremely short span of time.
The number of Honkai Beasts under Lu Xing's command had suddenly swelled to an absurd degree.
He himself, naturally, hadn't changed. The upheaval stemmed from the other Legion Leaders—following the success of The Flame-Chasers' decapitation strike, command authority over the Honkai Beasts rapidly transferred to Lu Xing.
From Temple-class all the way down to Chariot-class.
As the sole remaining [Legion Leader], with the Ice Emperor yet to make an appearance, Lu Xing had become the supreme commander of the entire legion!
But...
Lu Xing was far from able to control this immense power—he, who couldn't even command Knight-class beasts as if they were his own limbs, after so many Honkai Beasts were added to his ranks... could only let them act on their own impulses.
The battlefield instantly became incredibly bloody.
Honkai Beasts under command were certainly formidable. But once they lost their restraints, their primal savagery and destructive urges caused the unprepared humans to suffer immense losses in an instant—the already scattered and battered defensive lines were directly shattered by the chaotic torrent!
A breach appeared in the defensive line.
Behind it lay the city.
————
The Honkai Beasts surged towards Sydney.
Yet, the section of the battlefield where Lu Xing stood remained as steadfast and unmoving as a reef in turbulent waters.
The number of Honkai Beasts was too vast to command, but controlling them to stay away from himself was a trivial matter he could still manage.
The battlefield was already out of control.
The situation didn't allow Lu Xing to be distracted; the only thing he could do was:
Eliminate the opponent before him.
But—
Swoosh!
Boom!
Just as Lu Xing was preparing to attack, a dark red greatsword, like a fusion of fierce flames and dying embers, plunged into the ground between the two sides like a meteor.
A red figure descended from the sky.
A greatsword, hover wings, a crimson combat suit, and that incredibly messy ponytail of red hair, yet more fiery than any flame.
The Flame-Chasers, Fifth Squad Captain:
Himeko.
The newcomer was not in good condition; her equipment was severely damaged all over.
Nicks on the greatsword's blade were clearly visible, and cracks extending from these gaps were even causing parts of the already damaged sword body to flake off.
The hover thruster wings used for aerial maneuverability had already been emitting black smoke and sparks during Himeko's flight, and upon supporting her landing, they completely exploded into fragments.
Her form-fitting combat suit was torn with gashes of various sizes.
Nowhere on her body was there any pristine, fair skin to be admired; instead, it was covered in dark scorch marks and gruesome blood scabs—the former from Himeko's self-administered "high-temperature sterilization," the latter from performance-enhancing drugs used before the battle.
All of this.
Was not the focus of Lu Xing's attention.
His gaze was fixed intently on the box Himeko cradled in her left arm—although much of it was shielded, Lu Xing could still perceive a familiar aura from within.
"Cheche..."
Inside was a complete Honkai Core.
Lu Xing didn't know how she had managed it, but Cheche's Honkai Core had indeed been "extracted" by Himeko and placed into a box made of rare metal.
————
"Captain."
Himeko's arrival made Hua lower her combat stance.
"Hua."
"Leave this one to me."
Himeko stared intently at the humanoid Honkai Beast before her, speaking to Hua without turning her head.
"You and the Dolls fall back to defend the city. You'll be more effective there."
"Yes!"
Hua acted without hesitation.
She trusted her captain's judgment—despite their best efforts to hold the line, more and more Honkai Beasts were breaking through. The threat to Sydney was far more severe than here, and more critically, there were too many defenseless civilians there.
Moreover...
Her captain's strength far surpassed her own and that of the four Armed Dolls combined. After dealing with the enemy here, the captain would quickly be able to catch up.
"Wait."
Just as Hua acknowledged the order and was about to leave.
The rectangular metal box was casually tossed by Himeko towards her—
"This is what the Doctor wants. It's inconvenient for me to hold..."
Clang!!
A streak of azure light flashed past.
A straight-thrusting long blade struck the box flying towards Hua, sending it spinning away!
"..."
"Hua, go."
Himeko didn't continue her earlier instruction.
Her attention was now entirely focused on Lu Xing.
————
"An acquaintance?"
Himeko slowly advanced.
Her gaze swept past her crimson greatsword, looking directly at Lu Xing, thirty meters away.
"Honkai Beast..."
"Were you expressing anger just now?"
Circling the spot where her greatsword had landed, Himeko slowly shifted her steps.
Lu Xing mirrored her movements, his direction and pace perfectly matching Himeko's, making the scene resemble a choreographed two-person dance.
"And this weapon..."
Himeko was naturally referring to Radiant Star.
"I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about Soul Steel, but this is the first time I've seen Soul Steel so perfectly attuned to Honkai energy."
Himeko didn't care if Lu Xing could understand her, nor whether he would respond.
"A Soul Steel weapon, emotional fluctuations, logical thought... You're not a pure Honkai Beast, not even a pure Variant."
"I'm more inclined to believe."
"Certain experiments led to your existence... I know several individuals who enjoy conducting such things—the origins of disasters, the reasons that invite destruction, often stem from humanity itself."
Hearing this.
Lu Xing confirmed one thing:
Himeko's words weren't meant for him. Instead, they seemed more like some form of self-exonerating explanation and solace.
"Unfortunately."
Himeko was now less than five meters from her greatsword.
"Humans have too many excuses."
"I'm truly not good at discerning truth from falsehood—regardless of what cruelties you might have endured, it doesn't change the fact that you are a Honkai Beast."
"And..."
As Himeko grasped the hilt and drew her greatsword, it became wreathed in soaring sparks and fierce flames.
"Your very existence."
"Is a threat to humanity."
With these words, Himeko's expression, greatsword in hand, transformed.
The easygoing older sister figure instantly became a warrior with a piercing gaze—deep within her pupils, fine tendrils of flame coalesced into the shape of a crimson lotus; flames that seemed to want to devour both the enemy and herself, unbeknownst even to her, flickered out from the edges of her eye sockets.
Boom!!
A wave of fire erupted!
Himeko, wielding her greatsword with both hands, charged straight at Lu Xing!
————
Name: Himeko
Level: 60
Abilities: Crimson Lotus Flash, Phlogiston Burst, Blazing Blade Draw, Meteor Firefall, Heaven-Burning Calamity Flame.
Equipment: Flowing Flame Armor, Surtr
Attack: 127
Speed: 105
Constitution: 46 (+23)
Evaluation: Heartflame Burnout