From a theoretical standpoint, Leo Ash was undoubtedly a novice in combat.
Although he had the combat skills granted by the narrator, having a skill and fully mastering it were two different things.
He had the skill, but if the proficiency was zero, the most he could do was bully ordinary people with it.
Trying to defeat Bronya, who had been through life-and-death training, with a combat enhancement skill at zero proficiency... that was pure fantasy.
If he hadn't also drawn another skill, [Clear Mirror, Still Water], he would have definitely chosen to turn and run the moment he detected her presence.
And as he entered the room, Leo Ash had already activated the Clear Mirror, Still Water ability.
After activating it, he could clearly feel his perception abilities being greatly enhanced.
Never mind the small, malicious figure behind him; he could even sense the subtle changes in the air currents caused by her movements.
It was precisely because of this greatly enhanced perception and his incredibly calm state of mind that Leo Ash was able, without seeing her, to pinpoint Bronya's position based on the air flow, then directly grab her exoskeleton and slam her heavily onto the ground.
The enemy's sudden counterattack caused the girl some pain, but this level of pain was not enough to make Bronya lose her will to fight or her composure.
Executing a recovery move, Bronya quickly jumped up from the ground and, after creating some distance from Leo Ash, began to watch him with extreme vigilance.
As she thought. She had just been overthinking things.
Not only was he not an ordinary person, but his skills... he was definitely one of the most troublesome types among Schicksal agents.
Even his seemingly unguarded state when he entered the door was an act.
By appearing completely defenseless, he lured Bronya into a quick, preemptive strike. In such a hasty attack, Bronya was more likely to overlook details, making it easier for him to seize her openings.
This is tricky.
This was not an opponent Bronya could take down quickly and reliably.
Should she summon Project Bunny here?
Glancing around, Bronya immediately dismissed the idea.
Project Bunny was undoubtedly her trump card, but now...
If she played her trump card here, she was confident she could defeat her opponent.
But this apartment was very close to Senba High School, and Raiden Mei's apartment was also in this area.
He probably chose this location to make it easier to monitor Raiden Mei.
And if Bronya acted recklessly, she might instead disrupt her mother's plans.
It wasn't time for that yet. Wait a little longer...
!!!
Before Bronya could think for too long, Leo Ash had already made his move.
Bronya thought she was holding a hidden trump card, but to Leo Ash, a transmigrator, that card had been exposed long ago.
Leo Ash wouldn't dare say he knew everything about Honkai Impact 3rd; he was, after all, just a casual player who hadn't seen all the story and didn't necessarily understand all the lore.
But the problem was, he wasn't completely ignorant of the initial loadouts of the main trio before they entered St. Freya Academy.
Now he understood why the system had determined that the person invading his apartment would pose a life-threatening crisis.
Bronya was strong, but Leo Ash, after gaining his enhancement skill, wasn't going to die at the hands of this little brat.
But the problem was—she still had a quantum mech.
Once Bronya was pushed into a corner and summoned her mech, Leo Ash would be the one to die.
Even if Leo Ash had chosen to retreat at that moment, leaving his back open to the enemy, he might have been shot full of holes by a summoned mech.
His only chance of victory now was to knock this little girl out before she realized something was wrong.
After all, Bronya at this stage was basically a summoner. All her firepower was in her summons; her own body was her weak point.
Having made his decision, Leo Ash unhesitatingly launched a preemptive attack.
And as he struck, Bronya became completely convinced that Leo Ash had been faking his incompetence earlier.
Leo Ash's moves weren't complicated, but as a child soldier, Bronya knew that killing techniques didn't need to be overly complex.
The speed and precision of this man's attacks were simply too high. After he rushed in, they had exchanged fewer than ten blows before Bronya was at a disadvantage.
And that wasn't even the most troubling part.
Bronya could now feel that Leo Ash's moves were becoming more and more proficient, and his attack angles were getting increasingly tricky.
If the Leo Ash from moments ago was like a beginner with extremely fast reflexes but unrefined techniques, then the current Leo Ash was definitely growing at a rapid pace.
Of course, in less than thirty seconds, no matter how much he grew, he couldn't instantly become a martial arts master.
But combined with his current terrifying state, the grown Leo Ash—was more than enough to beat her.
Merely because of these thoughts, Bronya, who had been distracted for just a fraction of a second, was hit in the head by Leo Ash's fist.
Her vision went black, and the girl immediately felt a violent impact on her abdomen.
Without even giving her time to react, after being hit in succession, Leo Ash had already thrown her aside.
Feeling her body completely out of her control, Bronya slammed heavily into the apartment door and then slowly slid to the ground.
"Ah, I won already?"
Looking at the seemingly unconscious Bronya, Leo Ash felt that something wasn't quite right.
Based on their exchange just now, as long as Leo Ash became a little more proficient with his combat skills, defeating Bronya wouldn't be a problem.
But for her to be knocked out in just a few hits...
[The frail young girl before you appears to be unconscious. Normally, you would have already... hehehe.]
[But your wise and brilliant self knows very well that she is faking it. At a time like this, you should use the fist of justice to teach this little brat a harsh lesson, to let her know that lying is wrong!]
I knew it.
By the way, wise and brilliant... aren't you making me sound really arrogant?
"Well, looks like the problem is solved. Now then..."
Good, this guy has fallen for it. As long as he shows an opening, Bronya will...
"Who the fuck are you kidding?"
Before Bronya could act, Leo Ash dashed to her side, hauling her up from the ground.
"Thinking about it, we have no grudge against each other, yet you were so ruthless. I guess I don't need to hold back at a time like this."
"Plus, you're an accomplice helping a villain awaken a Herrscher. So, I suppose..."
"—it's better if you just die here, Bronya Zaychik."
..