However, perhaps because the White Flower was missing, while Black Abyss provided a boost to the user, it also consumed their life force. Although he didn't understand the principles of this space, Ming Yu could feel that using Black Abyss consumed life force, which meant an equivalent amount of life would be lost in reality. This forced Ming Yu to be cautious.
*So, when I'm strong enough in the future, should I go to Schicksal HQ and snatch Black Abyss and White Flower?* Ming Yu fell into deep thought as he looked at the mark on his arm. Shaking his head, he dismissed the unrealistic idea. Setting aside the difficulty, he would surely have his own Divine Keys by then and wouldn't need to be fixated on a single Abyss Flower.
Opening his status panel, Ming Yu took stock:
Host: Ming Yu
Honkai Energy Points: 176
Weapon: Black Abyss (5-Star) (Virtual)
Stigmata: None
Skills: Inch-Heart Fist Technique (LV3: 113/3000), Basic Swordsmanship (LV1: 202/300)
Evaluation: B (Relying on a false Divine Key, you have finally shed your weakling status. But once you leave this space, you're still a weakling!)
A level 3 Inch-Heart Fist Technique required a full three thousand proficiency points, ten times that of a level 2 skill. This increase was definitely not normal. According to the System, it was because the skill had undergone a qualitative change, causing the difficulty of leveling it up to rise accordingly. In other words, if Ming Yu had used points to level it up, it might have become something like Close-Quarters Combat LV3, which would lower his future potential.
This also proved that Ming Yu's earlier feeling was correct: breaking through on his own instead of using points to increase proficiency would indeed make the skill stronger, and the boost in power would be greater.
Rather than suddenly spending a large number of points to boost himself and then taking time to adapt to the sudden increase in power, it was better to use a small number of points each day to speed up his training. This was the reason his Inch-Heart Fist Technique had improved so much. Seeing himself getting stronger every day, Ming Yu's confidence in the future grew steadily.
Under Otto's arrangements, the three of them moved into a quiet courtyard, secluded and unlikely to be disturbed. The gunpowder Ming Yu had requested was also piled up here. Otto hadn't dared to place these things near his own residence, even though high-performance explosives had not yet been invented in this era.
If these materials were given to Ming Yu, he could only stare at them helplessly. Only a genius like Bronya could use them to create something usable.
To be honest, compared to Bronya's combat abilities, her various support skills were what was truly monstrous. Not only was she proficient in the construction of various weapons, but she was also a top-tier hacker, capable of even hacking into Otto's backyard.
Ming Yu briefly explained his plan to the two of them. First, Bronya would create enough explosives. Otto would then have his people use them to draw the attention of the majority of Schicksal's forces. Then, he and Kiana would escort the Oath of Judah to Kallen, and finally, they would forcefully break the situation. The method was simple and clear, and in Ming Yu's view, highly executable.
"Kallen's execution is tomorrow. Since we've decided to save her, let's work together!" Ming Yu said encouragingly.
"Just watch me in action tomorrow! I will definitely save Big Sis Kallen," Kiana said, full of confidence.
"Bronya has one more question." Looking at Ming Yu, Bronya said solemnly, "This Otto person, can he really be trusted? Don't forget, he's the future Over..."
Before Bronya could finish, Ming Yu cut her off, "Don't worry. He's the one here who wants to save Kallen the most. He might not be trustworthy in other matters, but when it concerns Kallen, he is the most reliable."
Seeing Ming Yu's confidence, Bronya said no more. She believed that Ming Yu certainly had his own judgment.
The next day at noon, at the largest square in the eastern part of the city, people who were well-informed had already learned that there would be a hanging today and had gathered here. In any era, in any place, watching others' misfortune was a popular pastime for the masses, especially public executions, which were one of the few pleasures for the lower classes.
As the scheduled time drew nearer, the crowd grew larger. Amidst the impatient murmurs of the people, the sound of rhythmic footsteps rang out. A group of black-clad men wearing crow masks entered the square and quickly occupied the area around the execution platform. Soon, a white-haired woman in a worn-out nun's habit was escorted onto the platform and ordered to kneel beneath the gallows.
Some people who were close enough could see the face of the person to be executed and immediately cried out in alarm.
"How could it be Lady Kallen? How could she have committed such a crime? There must be a mistake!"
"That's right, that's right! It was Lady Kallen who saved our village from the monsters four years ago!"
Some even shouted,
"Release Lady Kallen! She must be innocent!"
"Lady Kallen is being wronged! Stop it!"
Hearing these voices, a man in black became furious and shouted, "Shut up! You commoners, how dare you question the Lord Overseer's decision! Anyone who dares to speak out of turn will be tried as a heretic and burned to death!"
At these words, the voices at the front immediately died down. Although they didn't dare to shout loudly, they looked at the man in black with even more furious glares. If looks could kill, that man would probably have been sliced into a thousand pieces.
"They are too despicable! I must save Big Sis Kallen!" Kiana said, biting her lip.
Ming Yu, though he found the Schicksal men arrogant, calmly sipped his tea and said, "A saintess is a saintess because she is different from ordinary people. Though so fragile that even common folk can pass judgment on her, she possesses a courage that comes from the heart. The fragile will use bluster to hide their panic, while the brave will face their inner fragility head-on."
Kiana snatched the teacup from Ming Yu's hand, slammed it on the table, and said with dissatisfaction, "What time is it for you to be spouting all this nonsense!"
Ming Yu awkwardly placed his suspended hand on the table and said helplessly, "What else can we do? We can't save Kallen by ourselves. We just have to wait for the signal to act."
That last line was a famous quote from a certain Overseer. Kiana didn't even notice the profoundness of his words. A dunderhead is a dunderhead, after all, Ming Yu thought, shaking his head slightly.
Bronya obediently refilled Ming Yu's teacup and said, "Calm down, Kiana you big idiot."
"Hmph~" Kiana snorted disdainfully, stood up angrily, held Judah in her right hand, and stared intently at the execution platform, as if she might rush out at any moment.
On the platform, a man in black bowed to Arthur and said, "Lord Arthur, it is almost time. The execution should begin."
Arthur sighed as he looked at the expressionless Kallen and waved his hand to signal the start of the execution.
A nearby man in black immediately and eagerly placed the noose around Kallen's slender neck. With the rope around her, Kallen showed no fear. Instead, a look of relief appeared on her face, as if death was not a judgment but a form of salvation.
*BOOM~* Suddenly, a series of explosions rang out. The crowd below descended into chaos, and the men in black on the stage immediately became alert, scanning their surroundings for potential enemies.
With a loud *BANG*, a golden cross flew from a corner tower next to the square, smashing into the ground beside the execution platform and creating a large crater. A white-haired girl in a gray cloak leaped from the tower, landing steadily on the cross.
While the girl was in mid-air, her dual pistols never stopped firing. With a *swoosh*, the rope around Kallen's neck snapped, and the man in black beside her collapsed with a bullet in his abdomen. The white-haired girl had fired two shots, both with incredible precision, but they were so close together that they sounded like one!