Watching Kevin get sliced in two by Leo Ash, whether it was the girls who knew Leo Ash well, or Su, Kevin's closest friend...
No, even Welt, who had only met Kevin once, found the scene utterly unbelievable.
Durandal, Yuna, Mei, and Welt had all fought Kevin directly.
Anyone who had fought him would know just how powerful this man was.
Moreover, during their exchanges, all four of them could vaguely sense that Kevin had not used his full strength against them.
Considering that, the level of power Leo Ash was displaying now was terrifyingly impressive.
As for Su, who possessed the most information on site, he could only stare at Kevin's bisected body in disbelief.
And Kevin's reaction made Su feel...
He was truly scared to death this time.
As Kevin's two halves flew backward, he manipulated Honkai Energy, forming it into energy ropes to forcibly bind the two parts of his body together.
At the same time, Durandal, seeing Leo Ash fly back and crash to the ground, glanced at Raiden Mei in her arms, gently placed the girl on the ground, and then dashed forward in a single step.
What happened to Kevin was, frankly, not her concern.
For Durandal, the most important thing was...
—This guy, he went and did something this reckless again!
Yuna and Mei also wanted to rush to Leo Ash's side, but in that instant, they both felt the Herrscher Cores near their hearts suddenly begin to spin at an incredible speed.
If the sensation from the cores spinning just now felt like 'the Honkai is supporting us,' then now, as they spun again, both of them felt as if the Herrscher Cores were forcibly eroding their bodies.
[Mei, something's wrong.]
Within Mei's body, the Herrscher of Thunder spoke to her, her tone unusually flustered.
[This core is slipping from our control!]
*What, you too?!*
Looking at Yuna beside her in utter shock, Mei saw on Yuna's face the exact expression she had been dreading.
Yuna, with the same expression as Mei, looked at her companion.
"Yuna, you too?!"
"Mei, my core... it's trying to break free from my control..."
At this moment, both of them, drained of their strength and injured from the battle, could only try to steady their minds and prevent the Herrscher Cores from escaping their control.
However, not everyone present was concerned about Leo Ash.
Welt, being an outsider in a sense, had been calmly analyzing everything since the Field of Binding appeared.
Two minutes ago, while the girls were warily watching him and Su, he hadn't said much, instead discussing with Su whether the Moonlight Throne could forcibly break through the field.
Of course, the fact that they ultimately didn't act was proof enough of the discussion's outcome.
And now, with the battle decided, Welt, who wasn't concerned about Leo Ash, certainly wasn't going to stand by and watch.
He hadn't forgotten his purpose for coming here: to stop the warrior Kevin's actions.
So, when Kevin was cut in two and began to forcibly bind his body with Honkai energy ropes, Welt acted immediately.
He had no intention of killing Kevin.
After all, this man had chosen not to act when he had the chance to kill Welt earlier.
So, in Welt's eyes, this man was someone he could talk to.
But even though Welt was certain they weren't mortal enemies, he wouldn't let his guard down for a second.
Even with Kevin in this miserable state, the Kevin in Welt's mind was still the supreme powerhouse who could defeat Su, Welt, and Siegfried with a single strike.
Zeroth Power took time, so for now, Welt could only unleash a thousand times the force of gravity, trying to pin Kevin's body down.
But at that very moment, Kevin's body began to exhibit a phenomenon that was very familiar to Welt.
With the activation of the Quantum Teleportation System, Kevin successfully transferred his body to the World Serpent's main base.
Gray Serpent, who had been waiting for Kevin's contact, saw the two halves of Kevin on the floor and immediately spoke in a panic.
"My Lord... you?!"
He had wanted to ask, 'Who injured you like this,' but as Kevin's most loyal subordinate, Gray Serpent certainly wouldn't poke at his boss's sore spot at a time like this.
Besides, without even asking, Gray Serpent already had an answer in his heart.
There were only a few strong people in this world, and Hua, Su, Otto, Welt, and Durandal were no match for his Lord.
Leo Ash's past strength was certainly no match for his Lord either, but...
—But this guy is just absurd!
With no evidence whatsoever, Gray Serpent just knew that Kevin's injuries were definitely Leo Ash's doing.
Seeing the silent Gray Serpent, Kevin, who had finally pieced his two halves back together, immediately urged the super-variable factors in his body, attempting to heal his wounds.
But unfortunately, the mixed energies that Leo Ash had blasted into Kevin's body with the Binding Beam Cannon were still rampaging inside him.
The reason Kevin had used Honkai Energy to form ropes and try to piece his body back together in such an ugly and comical manner was also because of this.
The authority of the Herrscher of Binding was simply too terrifying.
And Leo Ash, who possessed this authority and could channel it directly into energy to blast into Kevin's body, was even more terrifying.
The authority of the Herrscher of Binding, which should have formed a field, had been split by Leo Ash in this battle into an external field to suppress Kevin and an energy to attack him.
Under this dual pressure, Kevin felt that if Leo Ash hadn't noticeably lightened his last strike, he might not even have been able to escape.
However, it was precisely because Kevin felt his current state was so ugly and comical that he...
—couldn't help but cover his face and burst into laughter.
"Hahahahahaha! Wonderful!"
"Everything I had hoped for has finally happened."
Listening to Kevin's unsettling laughter, Gray Serpent's heart grew even more tense.
*My Lord, has he finally been driven mad by the pressure after such a crushing defeat?*
"My Lord! Your subordinate doesn't know what happened, but you were merely tired and thus fell prey to a villain's scheme!"
Kneeling on one knee, Gray Serpent spoke to Kevin with immense respect.
"Your subordinate will hasten the collection of energy so that you may reclaim the power that is rightfully yours!"
"...Mm, I'll leave that to you."
After saying this, Kevin added to Gray Serpent.
"The preparations for the Stigmata Project must not stop either, but you are only to prepare for its launch."
"Without my order, you are absolutely not to activate the Stigmata Project, understand?"
"Yes!"
Although there was nothing wrong with Kevin's orders, Gray Serpent couldn't help but feel a sense of dissonance in them.
It was as if—Lord Kevin didn't really want the Stigmata Project to succeed.
Watching Gray Serpent move aside, Kevin lay on the base's sofa, staring at the metal ceiling of the World Serpent headquarters.
During his fifteen hundred years of seclusion in the Sea of Quanta, although Kevin still held onto the hope that someone would come and stop the Stigmata Project, the rationality that had long since taken over his mind made him well aware that the difficulty for others to stop it was simply too great.
Even if Su and Hua were to stand against the Stigmata Project, as long as Kevin was there, the odds of anyone among humans defeating Kevin at his peak were ridiculously high.
But today, Leo Ash had shown Kevin with his own actions that the so-called strongest of the Previous Era was not an insurmountable peak.
Of course, the Kevin of today did not fight with his strongest power.
But, it had been less than three months since Leo Ash's debut.
In less than two months since his debut, Leo Ash, after awakening as the Herrscher of Binding, had cut Kevin in two in less than two minutes.
If he were given a little more time, then...
*Ha, I really was a bit too naive.*
*I have always been resistant to the Stigmata Project, I know that much.*
*But to see a powerhouse of this era like him appear, and to be this happy about it...*
*I can't laugh yet, it's not time.*
*Fifty thousand years ago, it was because we were too naive that we failed to overcome Finality.*
*And now...*
*As for laughing out loud, I can wait until that day comes.*
.....
At almost the same time. Jiuyou
Watching Kevin get carried away by the quantum teleportation device even under the pressure of the gravity waves, Su really felt...
This whole scene is so weird.
Honestly, not even the Herrscher of Finality back then had managed to cut Kevin's body in two.
Kevin, facing the Herrscher of Finality, had returned to the Fire Moth base almost unharmed after delivering his strongest strike.
Yet now, not only was Kevin sliced in two by Leo Ash, but he had also immediately activated the Quantum Teleportation System to run away...
Although there were factors like Kevin's insufficient energy and Leo Ash weakening him with the Field of Binding, Su still felt like he had truly seen something today.
Welt acted the moment Kevin was sent flying; his speed could not be called slow.
Under these circumstances, for Kevin to still be able to complete the transfer so quickly, it could only mean...
—You mean to tell me that while you were in the field, you already thought you would lose and prepared to teleport out in advance???
Thinking that the strongest of the Previous Era hadn't lasted two minutes against Leo Ash, Su truly felt that Leo Ash was just too ridiculous.
A month ago, Leo Ash couldn't even defeat Su.
And now, a month later, Leo Ash had easily solo-killed Kevin...
*Am I dreaming?*
*Does someone who improves at such a terrifying rate really exist in this world?*
But now, regardless, Kevin was truly gone.
Until he found World Serpent's main base, Su felt—he would have to continue to worry.
From the start of today, Su felt like his heart had been in a constant state of shock.
He was worried that Kevin and Leo Ash would fight... well, they really did fight.
But the result was beyond Su's expectations. Not only did Leo Ash not need their support, he even speed-ran killing Kevin in under two minutes.
At this point, Su's worries shifted to Kevin.
Kevin was his close friend, after all. He just wanted to stop Kevin, not kill him.
Even fifteen hundred years ago, all Su wanted to do was seal Kevin in the World Bubble of the Seed of Sumeru, not kill him.
He was genuinely afraid that Kevin would die here.
But after Kevin ran away, Su started worrying again.
Kevin didn't win today because he had just gotten out of jail after being set up by Su fifteen hundred years ago and hadn't had time to recover.
Once Kevin got back into shape, when the Kevin who possessed the [Power of Chimera] came out, Leo Ash might not be guaranteed a win.
But worrying about these things was useless now.
Compared to Kevin, Su felt he should be more concerned about Leo Ash.
Although in Su's eyes, with Leo Ash's firm conviction... alright, fear of death is also a firm conviction.
With Leo Ash's firm conviction, the probability of him overcoming the Honkai and becoming a Herrscher with a 'human heart' was extremely high.
But there's always a 'what if'. Mr. Ash, you...
"Mr. Ash????"
"Leo!"
"Senior!"
"Daddy!"
As Durandal rushed to Leo Ash's side to help him up, her hand passed right through him. In that moment, everyone's heart, except for Welt's and Fu Hua's who had knocked herself out, leaped into their throats.
At the same time, Leo Ash looked at the Seven Thunders of Retribution that had clattered to the ground and just thought...
Ah, this is bad.
Rin, who was forced to follow Leo Ash around because she couldn't leave his side, looked at his strange state and let out a helpless sigh.
Being unable to touch objects in the real world was something Rin associated with 'ghosts.'
But the current Leo Ash was clearly not a ghost like her, which could only mean...
*Leo Ash, you really messed up this time.*
*If you had just obediently let Kevin capture you, you might not have had to face this fate.*
"Leo Ash!"
At this moment, looking at her friend lying on the ground, whom she couldn't touch, Durandal frantically picked up Abyss Flower, desperately trying to heal Leo Ash's body with it.
But as the light of the white flower shone on Leo Ash, Durandal's heart sank.
"How is this possible..."
"Abyss Flower! Why isn't it working!"
*Yeah, why?*
*I... think I've figured out the reason.*
[That's right, the System already warned you, Host.]
[The reason the Stone of Annihilation is called the Stone of Annihilation is because those who overuse its power may turn to nothingness.]
[I told you to use Phantasmagoria less, and now you...]
[—It's time to pay the price, Host.]
*This is terrible. After defeating a strong enemy, I have to face such an end?*
Turning his head towards his companions, Leo Ash knew that his greatest fear had come to pass.
The feeling of death descended upon him in that moment.
Although there was still a glimmer of hope, if he didn't seize it, he would really be done for this time.
And...
"Senior!!!!!!!!"
Seeing Kiana suddenly appear here, a bitter smile crossed Leo Ash's face.
*Ha, interesting.*
*Really interesting.*
The Herrscher of Binding, who hates the Honkai, has seriously injured a warrior from the Previous Era who threatened the Honkai.
And after seriously injuring the Honkai's enemy, the Herrscher of Binding has lost control of his body due to his own power running rampant, and might even turn to nothingness.
The Herrscher of Thunder, Herrscher of Death, and Herrscher of the Void present here could all go berserk.
"Disciple! You, you, you—"
The Herrscher of Sentience, who had suddenly woken up, saw Abyss Flower's light shine on Leo Ash, only for his form to grow even fainter. She suddenly turned her murderous gaze on the surroundings.
"Who! Who hurt my disciple like this!"
Then, the Herrscher of Sentience immediately pointed her spear at Su.
"Su! It's all your fault!"
"If you hadn't conspired with that Herrscher against me, I definitely would have gotten here sooner!"
"If it weren't for you, my disciple wouldn't be dying!"
*Sigh, now there's another one.*
*Herrscher of Sentience... my dear Master Number Two.*
*If you'd just use that little brain of yours for a second, you'd know that causing trouble now is just playing into the Honkai's hands.*
Right now, Death, Thunder, Void, and Sentience, four Herrschers could go berserk.
And in terms of current combat power... Mr. Su feels much weaker than before; he used a lot of energy today.
Welt, the sit-up athlete, can at best fight one of them to a standstill.
Bianka's injuries haven't healed, and she already used some of the Honkai Energy stored in Abyss Flower.
Her condition isn't good right now, Abyss Flower isn't fully charged, so even if she has the power to suppress Herrschers, with incomplete equipment, things get complicated.
And Isla...
*Silly daughter, run away, what are you still doing here?*
But right now, Leo Ash had many things he wanted to say, but he couldn't get the words out.
*Damn it, the Honkai planned this really well, but...*
*—I'm not going to die!*
*Think, as my existence is about to disappear, what can I do, what should I do, I...*
*—I still have one last hidden card to play!*
Forcibly drawing on the power of that thing, Leo Ash opened his mouth to the others.
Although no one could hear the sound he made, everyone except the Herrscher of Sentience who was chasing Su saw the shape of his mouth.
[Everyone, wait for me. I'll be back.]
After conveying this message, Leo Ash's body finally vanished completely before everyone's eyes.
"Senior... you... you... you..."
Seeing Kiana's heartbroken expression, Isla Ash immediately walked over to her, trying to say something.
And at that moment, the devastated Durandal, and Mei and Yuna who were forcibly suppressing their Herrscher Cores to keep them from going out of control, all saw something.
Kiana, who doted on Isla Ash, now gently pushed her daughter's hand away and walked towards Yuna and Mei.
"Mr. Su, what now?"
Welt, assisting Su in trying to control Fu Hua, looked at the incredibly agile Herrscher before him and felt his headache worsening.
"Hua is not an easy opponent... We should still prepare for an all-out battle."
"You traitor! You really have colluded with others!"
Listening to Su's words, the Herrscher of Sentience was furious and threw a punch at him.
"It was you! You must be the one who killed my disciple!"
"If you hadn't delayed me today! Kevin wouldn't have had the chance to attack Leo Ash! If you hadn't delayed me, I could have saved my disciple in time!"
"And that guy next to you—you think I can't feel the Honkai supporting him?!"
*Ah, the Honkai is still supporting Mr. Welt???*
Hearing the Herrscher of Sentience's words, Su felt that the situation was even more wrong.
*Strange, Miss Yuna and Miss Mei both look like they're in a lot of pain, which clearly isn't a sign of being supported by the Honkai.*
*And now, if Mr. Welt can help me control the Herrscher of Sentience, then at least we can put the other problems on hold for today.*
*Based on the fact that the Honkai will support Herrschers and make calculations, unless there's a benefit, the Honkai shouldn't be supporting a traitor like Mr. Welt.*
*Which means—it's a trap!*
"Miss Yuna, Miss Mei, be careful!"
Hearing Su's words, Yuna and Mei endured the grief in their hearts and looked behind them.
And Durandal, not far away, had finally composed herself when she suddenly saw Kiana's pupils turn from azure blue to molten gold.
Before she could even react to what was happening...
"Mama Yuna!"
In front of Isla Ash, 'Kiana' shot out her hands, turning them into blades, and pierced through Mei and Yuna's abdomens.
As the two looked on in disbelief, 'Kiana' emotionlessly pulled the two Herrscher Cores from their bodies and tossed them into her mouth.
"Get—away from her!"
Durandal, throwing Abyss Flower directly at Kiana, successfully forced the enemy back with the strike.
But at the same time, after swallowing the two cores, a smile finally appeared on 'Kiana's' face, one she had never shown anyone before.
"Ah, it's been a long time since I've felt this good."
"I have waited for this day for so long."
"The Gem of Serenity, the Gem of Conquest, my beloved other halves..."
"—you have finally returned to me."
.....