Bang-!
With a single sword strike, the Purple Mansion equivalent quantum monster exploded into blue lights.
Swoosh-!
A single thrust of my right foot sent my entire body flying. The number of Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment monsters I killed as a collateral exceeded thirty.
My blood boiled as I kept this repetitive pattern.
Whenever these monsters used their authorities to fight back, I changed my target to the unguarded ones.
Then, by tweaking the twice-weakened [Blade Eminence] along the sword tip, I can achieve the same destructive power as the normal [Blade Eminence].
This level of control can only be achieved by brains and mental power far beyond the human limits. Doing it for an entire day is beyond the MANTIS limits.
Fortunately, it is barely within my recovery. I can keep this state all day long.
Sou-!
I rushed straight to the Golden Core monster. A multi-colored film coated the sword's edge atop [Blade Eminence].
No matter what it did…
Psshk-!
…it could not escape its humanoid head being severed.
With it gone, I earned a minute of rest.
My [Encompassing Eyes] immediately deduced my current state.
{Body: Late Purple Mansion}
{Spiritual Qi: 41%}
I looked at the mysterious space constituted by the [Xiutian Art]. The sizes of the silver clouds available for absorption came to my sight.
Seele's experienced a sharp increase.
These silver clouds are the result of their realm cultivation. I can approximate Seele's current progress with them.
Two of her realm cultivations reached the early Purple Mansion Realm. The remaining one is advancing rapidly, too.
Seeing this stable advancement, I can focus on breaking this space apart—that, and farming some combat experience.
As for using forbidden techniques to deprive their souls, this is a no-go. Both honkai beasts and quantum beasts possess a "will" inside them. I don't want to fight these sentient wills at the soul level.
That is plain courting death.
The monsters soon finished recuperating.
This time, I am determined to do something. Two days is enough to fully analyze this space and gain combat experience.
The [Beginningless Sword] went to my dantian. It was replaced by a pair of black guns. A flow of molten magma is present from its nuzzle to its handle.
An "inflexible" will emanate from it. A wave of clairvoyance went through my entire body.
Buzz.
The pair of guns came to life.
Its requirement is limited to honkai energy reserves alone. Once it was fulfilled, the Divine Key's abilities opened up to me.
A sense of anticipation welled up. Holding these Divine Keys personally feels very novel.
I moved towards a specific 'position'. Although this space is chaotic and changes every one minute, it has 'weak points' that appear every thirty-fifth and fifty-seventh minute.
This location can pop up anywhere. I had to analyze for two days to reorganize my analysis and predict two locations where these 'weak points' appear the most.
Click-!
The guns' barrels touched each other. A blazing red flame appeared as the divine keys' form changed into a familiar flaming greatsword.
Hum-!
Swoosh-!
A large amount of honkai energy was funneled straight into it.
1,000 HW.
3,000 HW.
5,000 HW.
…
Click-!
Unknowingly, Judgement of Shamash's Zeroth Form is unlocked. The flames it emitted instantly melted the surrounding enemies.
{Divine Key Power Scale Output: Peak Golden Core}
{Divine Key Authority Output: Nascent Soul}
Its output surprised even me. Its range and area of effect is estimated to be at the pinnacle of Golden Core Realm. It can cut through Earth. Its authority, however, went one step further than the supernatural powers.
The brightly burning flames contained traces of the dharma laws. Their mere sight describes the true nature of the Dao of Flames. My mind became captivated by it…
Sizzle-!
The honkai energy I drew surged uncontrollably. The limit, which I set to 50,000 HW, suddenly spiked to 100,000 HW for an unknown reason.
Bright purple lines emerged out of my skin. My internal organs started to fail, only to be counteracted by spiritual qi's recovery effect.
Unfortunately, Judgement of Shamash became out-of-control.
The damage done to my physical body far outpaced my current recovery.
Both honkai energy and these extremely hot flames resulted in serious injuries.
Creak-!
Controlling my Herrscher Core served no use. It lessened the damage of the flames but increased the intensity of the honkai corruption in my body. It is akin to drinking poison to quench thirst.
Just then, pale blue flames surged out of my dantian. It surrounded me as it began to actively 'devour' parts of Shamash's Nascent Soul level flames.
Its grade began to increase sharply. It decreased the power of these flames over my body. In turn, my mental power and spiritual qi consumption took a turn for the worse. I could only remotely control the recovery pills to my mouth and munch on them.
All of this happened because of Shamash's unexpected reaction. The power of this flaming sword far surpasses anything I have ever launched. Its charging time did not exceed ten seconds.
Looking at the weakness of this space…
Bam-!
…I delivered the full-powered strike.
*****
The strongest forerunner of the Previous Era, the Sequence Number 1 of the Thirteen Flamechasers, Kevin Kaslana.
His strength was never to be trifled with. He used his human body to kill the fourth and sixth herrschers. When he became an emperor-level MANTIS, he managed to deal with the seventh Herrscher.
By the time they fought the final herrscher, Kevin's fully-charged attack immobilized the final herrscher for twelve hours.
That was the result of his Chimera form, Diabolic Kevin.
Even then…
Bzzt-!
A loud "bang" appeared within the Sea of Quanta. Its sheer fluctuations sent waves into the bubble world where Kevin stayed.
"...A god."
It wasn't just Shi Tian who was vigilant. Kevin maintained the strictest vigilance against Shi Tian. It wasn't so much as aversion. Rather, it is respect.
He had made up his mind to enact Project STIGMA a long time ago. All of their failures pointed out the futility of humanity's efforts. Kevin's heart is worn down by it.
His final 'willingness' dissipated when he pushed Su out of this bubble world. He gave humanity 1,500 more years to show him a feasible plan aside from the Project STIGMA.
Once he comes out, there is no going back.
"It surpassed my killing blow that day. But… it is not enough."
Shi Tian's 50,000 HW with Judgement of Shamash's Zeroth Form could immobilize a full-powered Herrscher of the End for three days at least. That was without the use of Selene to stave off 32% of the Herrscher's reserves. Its difficulty is unmatched.
However, that was it. The Herrscher of the End could not be defeated. Aside from its twelve authorities, it possessed a "life level" far beyond what they could hope to defeat.
In short, she cannot be killed. At most, she can be immobilized. It is this immortal-like enemy that pushed the Previous Era to the brink of despair.
Only a power of similar level as hers could fully eliminate her. Honkai energy alone does not suffice; authority is needed.
As for how the Herrscher of the End "died" on the Moon, Kevin speculated it is related to the source of Honkai up above.
"That power…" He muttered. "...it will destroy humanity."
Kevin viewed his half-polluted mental power as a grave threat. The "black" portion did not just spell destruction; it is the end of all things.
Both honkai and humanity will disappear in the face of it. That is something Kevin does not wish to see. Nonetheless, it has the potential to work in humanity's favor. That was how strong that influence is.
Shi Tian could be a savior or destroyer of humanity.
Kevin shook his head. He resolved himself to complete the Project STIGMA. He could not entrust this fate to anyone else.
But, considering today's circumstances, a change of mind occurred within him.
Perhaps...
He can give humanity one last chance.
"It is time… to leave."
Shi Tian's confrontation with the Will of Honkai affected the Sea of Quanta to a large extent. The long streak of crimson flames could reach Kevin's sight. Coupled with his 100,000 HW attack now…
Shatter-!
…the World Serpent's cage broke down.