When the Fifth Herrscher showed clear consciousness, the battle between Chen Ran and the Herrscher began.
This time, he did not fight the Herrscher alongside Kevin but chose to do so with Bia.
Aside from Bia's Cosmic Juggernaut, which had the power he needed to open the world passage, the most important reason was that the Honkai Beasts that appeared alongside the Herrscher also needed to be dealt with.
Kevin needed to protect MEI.
"The effect of the Sticks of the Underworld is indiscriminate against Honkai life."
MEI looked at the many swaying Honkai Beasts, as if drunk, and said lightly: "My experimental results are correct; the instrument that interferes with consciousness is the best way to disrupt Honkai life."
Consciousness and Honkai exist in the same dimension, making it hard to clarify who is special.
And the Sticks of the Underworld can disrupt Honkai without disturbing human consciousness; based on the effects currently displayed, it is already very strong.
However, no matter how strong the Sticks of the Underworld are, it is difficult to play a significant role in high concentrations of Honkai.
"There are too many variables, whether it's the concentration of Honkai Energy itself or the density of Honkai life. This experiment can only verify the effectiveness of the Sticks of the Underworld against the Herrscher; nothing else can be verified."
MEI still felt a bit unwilling.
"Let's talk about the experiment later."
Kevin said to MEI: "The fifth squad is almost here and is confirming our location. I'll ensure your safety first, then assist Chen Ran."
"The fifth squad, I remember Chen Ran's cousin is in that squad, right?" MEI asked instinctively.
Kevin nodded: "That's right, Himeko has a high opinion of her."
MEI's eyes flickered, not knowing what she was thinking.
At this moment, Chen Ran was already engaged in battle with the Herrscher of Ice.
Like the Herrscher of Wind, the Herrscher of Ice also lacked consciousness.
She had a nearly perfect face, but her eyes had no highlights. Chen Ran couldn't think of a good description; he just felt that the Herrscher in front of him resembled a high-level Zombie.
As the research on the Herrscher within Fire Moth deepened, Chen Ran learned more about the Herrscher.
During Vill-V's creation of the Divine Key, he mentioned a hypothesis to Chen Ran: the Herrscher Core actually possesses the consciousness of rules, and the one who dominates this consciousness is Honkai.
Perhaps it could be said that the Herrscher is essentially the manifestation of the consciousness of the rules, while the body that carries the Herrscher is merely a container for holding water.
In the process of being manipulated by Honkai, the powerful Herrscher is merely a high-level Zombie that wields higher-level Honkai power.
But even a high-level Zombie is not easy to deal with.
He held the Keys of the Void in his hand, and the bullets capable of collapsing space were about to swiftly penetrate the body of the Herrscher of Ice.
However, when they hit, the Herrscher of Ice only felt a slight pain.
"Does it effectively reduce molecular motion?"
Chen Ran's eyes narrowed slightly.
If each Herrscher represents a physical rule, then the authority held by the Herrscher of Ice in front of him was already evident.
To reduce the speed of molecular motion.
Even though the bullets he fired collapsed space, their internal energy would quickly dissipate as the speed of the molecules decreased.
In such circumstances, any material would quickly dissipate its momentum.
Although it wasn't as direct as the Herrscher of Binding extinguishing all energy, it was still quite terrifying.
From this perspective, being able to directly tear apart the Herrscher of Ice, Kalpas was also quite formidable.
Chen Ran continued to fire his gun unwillingly, but the Herrscher of Ice was not a target either.
Ice spikes fell from the sky, and he and Bia could only dodge left and right. In any situation, using something of immense mass to smash someone was always a safe bet.
At that moment, Bia spoke up: "Chen Ran, you need to consider retreating."
"The current temperature has already dropped to -45.3℃. In this situation, a normal human would suffer frostbite. According to my calculations, if you stay here for more than an hour, you will experience desensitization hallucinations due to the low temperature."
Durandal was also a high-level computer.
While thinking of ways to counter the Herrscher of Ice's attacks, she reminded Chen Ran.
"Has the temperature really dropped that low?"
Chen Ran's eyes showed a hint of surprise: "To be honest, I don't feel much."
While dodging the ice spikes, he tried to get closer to the Herrscher of Ice.
The authority to reduce molecular thermal motion destined him to engage in close combat with the Herrscher.
However, the Herrscher of Ice was releasing low temperatures with all her might. If it weren't for Bia's reminder, Chen Ran wouldn't have felt it at all.
He wasn't a person who had lost consciousness, corrupted by Honkai Energy.
He had merely infused his body with knowledge genes, Stigmata genes, the authority of the Herrscher of Wind, and Mobius's drug injections...
It wasn't much.
At that moment, Chen Ran suddenly sensed a strange power emerging within him.
He recalled a reward from the system earlier.
[Stigmata Resonance: In times of peace, the power of resonance resides here. When the war horn sounds, resonance gathers, forming Stigmata.]
[Please note, Stigmata Resonance has been embedded in your genes. When you engage in your next battle, there is a chance to generate special Stigmata within your body. Even the system cannot intervene.]
It felt as if some strange power was enhancing all the strength within Chen Ran.
An ice spike fell from the sky, about to smash down on him. This time, Chen Ran no longer dodged; he raised his hand and executed a gun-fighting technique.
The ice spike shattered instantly.
Bia's eyes showed surprise, then she calmly said, "Your power increase is abnormal. I suggest you go back and check your body."
"Then let's go back and talk about it."
Chen Ran's gaze turned to the Herrscher of Ice, revealing a fighting spirit.
"Now, our opponent is not easy to deal with."
…
…
"Report, Captain, we have located Kevin and MEI's position."
Half an hour after the outbreak of Honkai, Fire Moth's fifth squad quickly arrived at the scene.
Hua said to Himeko, "I tried to contact Kevin, and I succeeded. Kevin urged us to come in and then safely evacuate MEI. Chen Ran has already gone to deal with the Herrscher."
Himeko raised an eyebrow: "Weren't they conducting experiments? What about the experiments?"
Hua shook her head: "I don't know."
"Forget it, let's go."
Although the higher-ups had ordered the fifth squad to obtain first-hand experimental data, in the current situation, recovering the Herrscher was more important than any experiment.
However, the members of the fifth squad initially thought that rushing to the center to assist MEI would be a difficult war of attrition, but they were astonished to find that the most challenging situation they faced was merely the low temperature.
"Why do the Honkai Beasts here seem drunk?"
Kiana looked at the swaying Honkai Beasts, which didn't initiate attacks even upon encountering humans, feeling a bit puzzled.
Himeko said, "They seem unable to interfere with their own behavior. It looks like the experiment was successful."
"Successful experiment?"
"Let's go. Once we find MEI, everything will be clear."
The Divine Warrior Project was a massive experimental plan. MEI successfully persuaded the higher-ups to invest in this plan, so the higher-ups would certainly require MEI to produce experimental results.
At this time, MEI's excuse to the higher-ups was that it involved the Divine Warrior experiment.
Thus, Himeko's other task was to obtain first-hand experimental data for assessment.
Himeko even judged that this was the higher-ups' most important task, while the rescue was merely a secondary matter.
If it were a real rescue, the one coming here should be Elysia, not her. However, Elysia had not been trusted by any of the higher-ups until now; her joining Fire Moth felt more like a formality.
Kiana nodded, then asked, "What about these Honkai Beasts? Shouldn't we eliminate them?"
"Prioritize completing the mission. Hua, when we return, make sure to teach Sirin about all matters related to Fire Moth."
Although Himeko appreciated Kiana, she never liked her impulsive personality.
Hua nodded: "Okay."
Kiana could sense that Himeko was a bit angry, so she immediately fell silent.
Soon, the fifth squad found Kevin's location.
Seeing the newcomers, Kevin's expression relaxed slightly.
"You arrived just in time."
Despite being in danger, MEI remained calm and said, "We are conducting interference experiments on Honkai life consciousness. These Honkai Beasts are the results of the experiment. By emitting waves at a special frequency, we can disrupt Honkai's control over Honkai life."
Without waiting for Himeko to ask, she voluntarily explained part of the experimental content.
This was necessary.
Only by exchanging experimental content could she justify the many resources she had used.
Otherwise, Fire Moth provided her with so many resources and went to great lengths to rescue her, yet she said nothing. Even if the higher-ups had no objections, the others would.
After all, there were many geniuses in Fire Moth.
Kevin urgently said, "I need to help Chen Ran. The Herrscher's accompanying Honkai Beasts have not yet appeared, and the situation is still grim."
Kiana quickly spoke up: "I'll go too."
Kevin glanced at Kiana but did not refuse.
The two, who looked almost identical and could be considered siblings, quickly joined the battle against the Herrscher, while Himeko simultaneously issued orders to the fifth squad: "Clear out the Honkai Beasts to create more combat space."
She did not join the battle; the priority was MEI's safety.
…
…
With the activation of Stigmata Resonance, Chen Ran approached the Herrscher once more.
The closer he got to the Herrscher, the more he felt the terrifying power of resonance.
"The Herrscher's body has already reached the absolute zero zone, with the edges at -175℃ or even lower."
Bia wielded her Greatsword, striking at the ice spikes: "In five minutes, I will activate the chip's self-protection and shut down. You need to take me out by then."
She was a robot.
Although her body made of Soulium meant she was not afraid of high or low temperatures, it was important to remember that Bia had a learning module.
Extreme temperatures could cause the learning module to near collapse, making self-protection necessary.
"I understand."
"By the way, don't you really need to use my body as a weapon? My hardness is no less than that of this Divine Key."
"That would require you to be able to open a spatial passage. You follow me, knowing what I need." Chen Ran fired bullets at the Herrscher, but the fragile bullets only served to anger her.
Bia pouted: "I'll think of a way later."
Though she said she would think of a way, she knew that without special circumstances, she couldn't tear through space like the Cosmic Juggernaut.
This world was a stable one; unless she could load the Herrscher Core of the Cosmic Juggernaut.
Otherwise, Durandal simply didn't have the capabilities of the Cosmic Juggernaut.
Chen Ran noticed Bia's mood was clearly a bit down and encouraged her: "I already have a figure on my shopping list waiting for payment. I'll ship it out as soon as we get back."
Bia: "Yay!"
The two, one big and one small, maneuvered around all the ice spikes, directing all their attacks at the Herrscher of Ice.
Although the Herrscher could slow down molecular thermal motion, she couldn't extinguish all energy directly like the Herrscher of Binding. However, she couldn't freeze everyone directly either.
Perhaps she could, but at least this Herrscher had not mastered that yet.
Chen Ran had already inflicted numerous wounds on the Herrscher using the Keys of the Void, while Bia swung the Cosmic Juggernaut to smash. Although she knew many human fighting techniques, none were specifically designed for ELFs.
Under the relentless attacks of the two, the Herrscher of Ice gradually began to struggle.
Her combat ability was still lacking.
However, at that moment, Chen Ran suddenly heard a roar.
Behind the Herrscher of Ice, a massive ice spike loomed.
Now, the ice spike shattered, giving birth to a gigantic Honkai Beast.
"Damn, it's an ice pig."
The Emperor-class Honkai Beast Parvati appeared.
"Bia, give me the Cosmic Juggernaut."
If it were just one Herrscher, Chen Ran would be willing to drag it out slowly. But now, he couldn't afford to do so.
Stigmata Resonance allowed him to fight in low temperatures, but that didn't mean the power of resonance was limitless.
At this moment, it was naturally better to end things quickly.
"Okay."
Bia jumped up, handing the Cosmic Juggernaut to Chen Ran and directly taking the Keys of the Void from his hands.
Chen Ran faintly heard Kevin's voice calling out.
Clearly, Kevin had come to help.
However, given the terrifying low temperature, it was highly likely he wouldn't be able to approach. A human body has its limits, and Kevin was not MANTIS now.
The more he fought, the more Chen Ran admired Kalpas.
Unfortunately, Kalpas had been drained by him.
This could be considered a tit-for-tat.
While Chen Ran was lost in thought, Parvati roared at him.
The icy chill was about to freeze him, and at that moment, a bullet swiftly flew in, breaking through the cold and striking the ice pig's head.
It was Kiana.
"I'm here to support you."
The bloodline of Kaslana flowed within Kiana, allowing her to ignore the harsh environment before her.
Chen Ran nodded, gripping the Cosmic Juggernaut.
"Buy me some time."
He needed to activate the Cosmic Juggernaut to open the door to another world.
"Okay."
Kiana stood in front of Chen Ran, facing the Herrscher and the Emperor-class Honkai Beast without fear.
"Don't worry, by the time you're ready, I might have already taken down the Honkai Beast."
However, despite the chaos, she was surprisingly able to hold her ground against Parvati in the low temperature.
Chen Ran stood behind Kiana, while Bia also used the Keys of the Void for precise shots.
Kiana complained, "I thought this puppet was just a toy."
"Hmph, don't underestimate Durandal."
"Durandal?" Kiana was slightly taken aback. "You have the same name?"
"Uh-huh, I am the one and only Blade Durandal."
"Immortal Blades... now I remember."
Kiana instinctively wanted to mention something about Schicksal, but after a moment's thought, she changed her mind and said, "I have an... acquaintance, yes, her name is also Durandal, and she formed a group called Immortal Blades."
Bia blinked, "Is that friend of yours a pretty girl?"
"Probably."
At this time, Kiana had not yet met Durandal.
Her knowledge of the name was limited to what she had heard at Saint Freya.
Bia said, "Then I'll allow her to use that name."
Kiana: "..."
The two chatted while stalling the Honkai Beast.
As for the Herrscher of Ice, for some reason, aside from intensifying the drop in temperature and releasing ice spikes, she had no other means of attack.
Parvati lacked much intelligence, and under the interference of the Staff of the Underworld, she was soon being toyed with by Kiana and Bia.
In fact, Kiana felt she could counterattack.
"Bia, let's coordinate. You protect me, I can..."
However, Bia fell silent.
When Kiana turned to look, she saw that this Soulium beauty seemed to have crashed, the low temperature affecting her learning module, triggering her self-protection function.
Unable to approach people, Bia was still a machine, and some mandatory base commands could not be violated.
"Hey, hey, hey, don't shut down at a time like this."
Kiana instinctively complained, then she noticed the enraged Parvati starting to curl her body, charging like a wild boar.
"Not good."
Kiana instinctively wanted to dodge, but at that moment, Chen Ran was still behind her.
"Forget it, I have to hold on."
She flipped backward and activated the time-space rupture system.
The divine power revived her body and conveniently equipped her with the third-generation Valkyrie Armor. Kiana did not put on the Fire Moth combat suit but continued to fight with her existing armor.
The time-space rupture system was her crucial reliance at the moment.
However, as the time-space completely ruptured, Kiana was shocked to see a figure descending from the sky.
"Hokushin One Sword Style, Slash!"
"Mei?"
It was Raiden Mei descending from the sky, wielding a katana imbued with powerful thunder, striking directly at Parvati's head.
In addition, a hurricane swept in, enveloping the cold air, directly hitting the Herrscher of Ice.
A massive storm erupted, sweeping across the entire battlefield.
At this moment, Chen Ran, with a sense of intuition, looked up and saw Wendy descending from the sky.
"Cosmic Juggernaut Zero Rated Power."
"Activate!"
Relying on the power of the Stigmata within him, he opened the door connecting the virtual realm to the world.
This was the birthplace of truth and law.
It was also a place he relied on, beyond the world.
An invisible fluid mixed into the wind, and Chen Ran aimed at the core location of the Herrscher of Ice.
Then, he cut.
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