Chapter 38: What are you doing, Kevin?!

Snap——

I opened the candy box, fed myself a candy, felt the sweetness in my mouth, and then...

Snap——

With a sound that made people's teeth ache, the candy box was squeezed and deformed in Xiwang's hands, and the sugar remaining inside was shattered under the huge force.

He doesn't need this now. Even the familiar and favorite sweet taste can't calm his mood at the moment.

Bang——

There was a dull sound as if an underground water pipe had burst somewhere nearby. Between the broken walls and ruins, surging water broke through the obstruction, gushed out from underground, dispersed in the air, and then fell again due to gravity.

One place after another, soon, a small circle of "rain" formed around Xiwang.

I can feel the genes belonging to [Gabriel] being active in my body, and the fragrance of lilies lingering at the tip of my nose.

Following the scent of the flowers, you shift your gaze and see a bunch of lilies placed on a broken wall not far away.

He walked forward and picked it up, but the moment he picked it up, the lily quietly disappeared and turned into dots of blue as water.

There seemed to be the sound of a joyful horn in my ears, and also like the whispering voice of a woman.

The [Gabriel] gene in the body began to stir, and the surrounding water became more and more abundant. The "rain" that originally only stayed around Xiwang also expanded outward a little unknowingly.

The gold in his pupils expanded a little more, and the three remaining "lines" on his body also surged rapidly like a torrent.

Correspondingly, the aura on Xi Wang's body became more and more dangerous, and closer and closer to the Honkai beast - [Gabriel].

But none of this matters anymore.

"This direction... Yeah, that's right."

After confirming the direction, the surrounding water began to gather along Xiwang's line of sight. Tiny transparent water droplets quickly gathered together, eventually forming a blue "river" in mid-air that continued to meander forward.

Taking a step forward and walking into the blue "river," Xi Wang's figure was swept away by the rapidly flowing "water" and disappeared from the spot in an instant.

The water scattered around, after a brief stagnation, seemed to react and followed the direction of Xiwang.

Like a school of fish swimming in a designated direction, like seawater flowing along an ocean current.

Not until Xiwang's figure went away did the azure "river" quietly disappear into the sky.

...

...

"Ha…ha…has this guy realized the danger?"

Hen was panting heavily while dodging the attacks of the Herrscher in a panic.

The pressure on my body was getting heavier and heavier, and it was becoming more and more difficult to move. I could have found time to try to fight back, but now I could only be suppressed unilaterally.

Although this result was not surprising to Hen, because he was indeed no match for the [Ninth Herrscher], the reason he was able to hold him back for so long was probably because of the [Ninth Herrscher's] contempt and playfulness, as well as his good skills.

Don't think that the [Ninth Herrscher] will run away when it encounters a fusion warrior. Even if it really chooses to stay and fight against a fusion warrior, it will run away after fighting for a while. If it senses multiple fusion warriors, it will leave directly, making it look very timid. However, the [Ninth Herrscher] itself is very strong and difficult to deal with; otherwise, it would not have messed up the entire Mu Continent.

It can actually suppress many fusion warriors and even show a crushing posture, but it simply does not want to get into a confrontation situation. It has more things it wants to deal with... such as destroying cities, killing humans, and so on. It is a waste of time to confront such "inhuman" fusion warriors.

If you meet a fusion warrior you can beat, just fight him for fun, then kill the other ordinary people. If you meet a difficult one, just leave, it's no big deal.

To put it simply, it is a Herrscher that only fights in crushing situations and situations where it has an advantage. It can fight in evenly matched situations, but there is no need to, and it will just run away in situations where it is at a disadvantage.

Simple and effective, yet feels extremely difficult to deal with.

Only now... well, it seemed to realize that it had fallen into a trap, so it began to show its strength in an attempt to crush the annoying guy in front of it.

"Hey, why don't you fight?"

Finding that it did not attack him again, Hen, who was hiding behind the cover, adjusted his breathing and shouted loudly.

"You're out of energy?"

"…Take that thing away, and I won't kill you."

"Oh, you can still talk."

Hen's voice rose slightly, as if he was laughing.

"And you said you won't kill me? Don't act like my life is in your hands. You haven't taken me for such a long time...Pfft!"

Before Hen could finish his words, an inexplicable and powerful force pulled him out of the shelter and dragged his body into the air.

"Your life is in my hands now."

Looking at Hen, who was under its control, it said coldly.

"What? Don't want to play anymore?"

Feeling his body being oppressed to the point of being unable to move, Hen raised the corners of his mouth slightly and spoke in a slightly relaxed tone, but in response, he felt an inexplicable force wrapping around his neck, pressing on his throat.

"Make that thing go away."

The force around Hen's body squeezed him bit by bit. The pressure was so immense that even the body of a fusion warrior couldn't withstand it, and the sound of Hen's bones cracking could be faintly heard.

It had realized that it had fallen into a trap.

"Why don't you try to escape? Like you did before."

Hen was still smiling, appearing not to care much.

Anyway, Kevin is in position now, and it has entered the attack range of the [Judgment of Shamash]. Even if it wants to escape now, it will be useless. As long as it shows even the slightest intention of [escape], Kevin will activate the [Judgment of Shamash] and deliver a hard blow.

Hen believed that Kevin would definitely do it.

"I just don't want to argue with you guys."

It gave its reasons and then said.

"Take that thing away and I'll let you go."

"You are afraid, Herrscher."

Hen chuckled.

"From this point of view, you are no different from us humans... You are also afraid of death."

"Let that thing be removed, and I can promise not to kill you."

Seeing that Hen was still talking nonsense and even seemed very relaxed, it became a little anxious.

"Or do you want to be buried here with me? Die at the hands of humans, at the hands of your companions?"

"Why not?"

"..."

Hen's matter-of-fact tone made it pause.

"And your negotiation skills are terrible. Is it true that the minds of Herrschers are mostly occupied by madness and the desire to kill?"

Hen sighed, as if he didn't realize that he could be killed by it at any time.

"Or do you think you can leave by taking me as a hostage?"

"Isn't it?"

It asked back.

"You are the strong ones among humans, the ones who protect them, and you are a rare existence... If one of you is sacrificed, your fighting power will be greatly affected."

"I'll let you go and let you return alive, saving the precious fighting power of mankind. Isn't that good?"

Its tone was very calm, reminiscent of how Kosma usually spoke.

"And then let you continue to destroy and kill?"

"..."

It stopped talking.

But Hen laughed at this.

"You are afraid, Herrscher."

What responded to Hen was the increasingly terrifying pressure on his body. The immense and twisting force almost crushed his bones.

"Take that thing away."

Its expression became somewhat gloomy, and its tone turned cold, no longer promising to let Hen go.

"So... say..."

Hen endured the increasingly difficult breathing and forced himself to move his arms little by little, stretching them in front of him.

He closed his four fingers and extended his thumb while slowly rotating his arm so that his thumb gradually changed from facing the sky to facing the ground.

"Your negotiation skills... are terrible... Herrscher."

In the distance, Kevin, who was surrounded by high temperatures, looked at all this indifferently and slowly tightened his grip on the flaming sword.

Wang... hasn't come yet?

It's too late...

Kevin was anxious inside, but his face could not show even the slightest hesitation.

He also hoped that when Hen was restrained by the Herrscher, he would appear in time to take Hen away so that he could have no worries when releasing the [Judgment of Shamash].

He also didn't want to destroy Hen with his own hands, kill his predecessors and his comrades, so he was willing to help Wang and willing to disobey orders and delay the time of releasing [Judgment of Shamash] and launching the attack, even if it was only for one minute.

However, the premise of all this is to be able to kill the Herrscher.

This is Kevin's bottom line or the bottom line of all the fusion warriors participating in the war, and it is something that everyone knows.

Even if it means sacrificing a fusion warrior and reducing humanity's already precious combat power, the Herrscher must be killed... Only in this way can the Great Honkai be stopped and this disaster be put to an end.

But when it really came to this critical moment... Kevin was still a little hesitant, especially when he knew that Hen might be saved.

Even though he knew that Wang's arrival might not change anything, but... there is still hope.

What if? Right?

People always look forward to low-probability events like "miracles."

It's a pity that it seems... impossible now.

"... I'm sorry."

Kevin murmured softly, as if he wanted to convey his words to Wang who was still on his way and Hen who could no longer be saved.

"Wait, Kevin, the one minute Captain Wang mentioned hasn't even come yet, you..."

"It's too late."

The sudden rise in temperature made the sound in the communication become blurred, and Kevin just responded calmly.

He drew out the scarlet greatsword and pointed the tip of the sword at the Herrscher in the distance.

The flames danced restlessly, cheering around Kevin.

Rather than letting the Herrscher kill Hen and then escape, leading to unpredictable consequences, it was better to deal with it now.

And he would also bear the sin of [killing his companion]... just like before.

What happened with the Sixth Herrscher... cannot happen again.

It's all about humanity.

Everything is done to eliminate the Honkai.

Everything around was on fire, and everything became fuel for the fire.

The flames began to boil and roar, dyeing the night sky red.

Amidst the red flames, he was the only one still standing with the sword in hand.

Kevin looked into the distance, his eyes never leaving Hen and the Herrscher, but now their bodies became distorted... The flames had blocked Kevin's sight.

If only Hen could be rescued if only Wang could arrive, if only...

But now it seems that it is no longer possible.

But, what if? If he was here...

The one who could move in and out of the Seventh Herrscher with a human body, the one who was madly targeted by the Eighth Herrscher, but finally survived to the end and even recovered... could he save Hen?

Kevin remained silent, and then swung the sword in his hand.

[Skyfire Unsheathed]

The flames came like a wave.

The Herrscher sensed it, noticed it, but so what?

All this happened in a moment. It was just a simple action like raising your hand and swinging your sword. How much time could it take?

The flames of destruction appeared before their eyes in an instant.

However, this flame seemed to be weaker than expected. Although it was still fierce, it was slightly different from the power that was expected to be unleashed by [Judgment of Shamash].

But the Herrscher didn't know all this.

"Tsk..."

It just didn't expect that humans would be so decisive and actually willing to give up a fusion warrior to kill it... How cold-blooded and ruthless.

It could feel that the incoming flames could take its life, but fortunately, it was not completely unprepared.

With a slight movement of its fingertips, it directly controlled Hen to block in front of it... Anyway, it didn't expect Hen to help it resist the flames. As long as Hen died before it did, Hen would die at the hands of humans themselves.

It sneered and began to display its own strength based on Hen's body, trying to shape Hen's body into a small "black hole" to absorb as much flame as possible, while at the same time fully exerting its own [power] around it to reduce the damage it suffered.

As for the human who initiated the attack... Humph! He will forever bear the guilt of killing his companion!

And it will escape, will continue to live, and then will kill all the humans you are protecting and destroy existing civilization!

It thought so, then turned around and tried to escape under the remaining flames... It could do it, absolutely.

"Huh, you want to escape?!"

However, a slightly strange sound was heard behind it.

A charred and twisted arm grabbed it and dragged it to the spot.

"You're not dead?!"

At this moment, even it, as a Herrscher, was somewhat frightened... With its power and such fierce flames, he was still alive?!

"Don't underestimate us, Herrscher."

It saw a body that was burnt black but constantly healing itself grinning at it. Unfortunately, he didn't have much strength left, and the best he could do was to pull it and prevent it from leaving.

What a pity... that guy is still a little late... That's true, after all, the situation on the battlefield is ever-changing, and it would be too difficult to get here within six minutes.

Hen didn't have much expectation of being rescued. Although he was very grateful to Wang for coming to save him, he had already prepared himself for sacrifice.

It's not about humanity.

It's just... Griseo...

Hen's smile turned somewhat bitter at this moment.

But at this moment, Hen suddenly smelled a hint of dampness, but it was fleeting, as if it was an illusion, or as if it was completely evaporated by the fierce flames.

A huge impact came from the side, forcibly taking him away from the flames.

And at that moment, the flames that should have been fierce and destructive became a little weaker. The Herrscher seized this precious moment, fiddling with the [Power], and forcibly pulled itself away from the flames... and then was cut on the arm by the attacking water blade.

The water blade, formed by the compression and convergence of an unknown amount of "water," left the most conspicuous scar on its body. The pain at that moment was even greater than the pain of being burned by flames.

If the flames had not weakened at that moment, it would have been unable to escape. If it had not remained alert and avoided it in advance, half of its body would have been cut off. If its [power] had not still been in effect and deflected the water blade, one of its arms would have been broken.

But unfortunately, it still survived.

Although Hen was saved, no one was happy and Wang's angry shouts echoed in the field.

"What are you doing?! Keeeeviiiiin?!!!!!"

"..."

Kevin didn't respond but looked a little surprised.

He saw the "river" coming from the sky and naturally guessed that it was Wang coming.

When he saw Wang rushing into the flames without hesitation, even giving up the water flowing around him and trying to withstand the flames to save Hen, he... subconsciously withdrew his hand.

He should have increased his output, further unleashing the power of [Judgment of Shamash] to kill the Herrscher in one fell swoop... but the moment Wang appeared, he reduced his output instead. At that moment, he chose his companions, expecting Wang to rescue Hen, hoping that both of them could survive.

As a price to pay, the Herrscher... survived.

When Kevin wanted to remedy the situation, it was too late.

The repeated death threats made it angry, and the feeling of approaching death made it afraid.

It doesn't want to die.

It must... resist.

As if responding to stress, it began to use its [power] recklessly.

Thus, a piece of the sky was dug out by it and turned into darkness. No matter whether it was the night sky or the twinkling stars, or the moonlight or the drifting clouds, everything began to lead to that "black sun."

The damage it had previously caused to Mu Continent now showed even more terrifying destructive power. The ground began to collapse, and the entire continent began to split along the cracks previously created by the [Herrscher], like a soda cracker that was broken into pieces, gradually breaking away from the sea level, flying into the sky, and being pulled away by the "black sun."

High-rise buildings were dismembered, bridges broke in the sky, and the seawater that was originally going to flow back to fill the gap in the continent flew into the air uncontrollably. Even the Honkai beasts were ruthlessly dragged off the ground. The "black sun" devoured everything without scruples.

The people who were still alive on the continent were fleeing, but they could not escape at all. Even the land and ocean beneath their feet were held up and enjoyed by the "Black Sun." Where could such tiny humans like them escape to?

Did I... do something wrong?

Kevin was a little dazed for a moment.

He originally wanted to prevent the Sixth Herrscher's incident from happening again, but at the last minute, he still caused the Herrscher's survival because of his own reasons, and then... incurred the most horrific consequences.

What if he hadn't reduced his power? What if he had increased his power with more determination? Or what if he had waited a little longer? Would Wang have arrived and saved Hen?

If he had been more determined, or more patient, things wouldn't have turned out like this.

He wanted to make amends, he wanted to save the situation, but at this moment, the only thing he could do, the only thing he should do, was to [kill the Herrscher].

Only by killing the Herrscher can all this end.

Kevin raised the sword in his hand.

This time, he no longer hesitated, but just madly urged the sword in his hand, not caring even if the flames swallowed him.

[Skyfire——unsheathed!]

The light of flame lit up, like the scorching sun at noon, as if it was going to burn the hypocritical and greedy "black sun" to ashes.

Hen and Xiwang, who were closest to the "Black Sun," were naturally the most horrified by the attraction. But even so, Xiwang still fled frantically with Hen's charred body.

But... it's too close, there's no way... to escape.

The water that was attracted would be swallowed up by the "Black Sun" in an instant. Even if one fled outward at the fastest speed, one's body would continue to approach the "Black Sun," and the land beneath one's body... had already collapsed beyond recognition.

This is the Herrscher.

But... I will survive.

Xiwang believed so.

I will return alive with the scar.

Xiwang firmly believed this.

But what came before my eyes was a light as bright as the sun.

The blazing flames seemed to condense into substance at this moment, transforming into a gigantic sword blade that stabbed at the all-devouring "Black Sun," vowing to destroy this hypocritical and greedy creation.

Even though the flames were distorted the moment they entered the range of the "Black Sun," they still attacked its core with determination.

But it is unknown how many things will be destroyed and how many people will be affected in the process.

Unfortunately, Xiwang and Hen were on that distorted trajectory.

The bright light of the flame illuminated Xiwang's face, and the surroundings became extremely dry in an instant. No water could be attracted, as it was either swallowed by the "black sun" or evaporated by the high temperature. The things he relied on were no longer able to function at this moment.

The raging flames were about to engulf them, and the "black sun" behind them was trying to tear them apart.

Xiwang immediately wanted to push Hen away, at least to prevent him from being hit directly by the flames.

As for myself... I will survive, absolutely.

It's just that... Hen's actions were a little bit earlier than his.

Xiwang's line of sight twisted to the side, and his whole body deviated from the center of the flames.

Time seemed to stretch at this moment.

When I turned my head to look, I could only see Hen's charred body.

He was still smiling and even had time to give himself a thumbs-up.

He wanted to say something, but his voice could not be heard. The "black sun" was so greedy that it even captured his voice.

Finally, the flames devoured his body, along with half of Xiwang's body, and turned them into ashes.

The tearing that originally belonged to the "Black Sun" was also interrupted after a moment.

When the core [Ninth Herrscher] died, the created "Black Sun" lost its foundation and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

But what followed was piece after piece of land falling from the sky.

Bang!

A piece of land debris hit Xiwang, and he continued to fall with only half of his body left.

Snap—Snap—

All kinds of broken debris and broken land continued to fall into the sea below, or sank and floated twice, and then were smashed into the seabed by other objects above, or sank directly into the water and disappeared without a trace.

But it doesn't matter. The sea is inclusive and will accept even wreckage and ruins.

Humanity's scientific research bases, human industrial centers, and even the most critical [Eye of the Abyss] were all accepted by the ocean at this moment, even though they had long been broken into pieces.

The entire Mu Continent... shattered, and turned into pieces that sank to the bottom of the sea, leaving only a few debris floating on the sea and a few survivors.

However, even the cries for help from the sea soon disappeared.

The land disappeared, and this place has become the territory of the [Ocean]. The Honkai beasts that originally hid in the sea and could not approach the coastal areas have started a carnival and killed all the survivors.

The glow of the flames faded, leaving only the tranquility and coldness of the night.

Kevin walked quickly on the ice, freezing the sea surface again and again, turning the Honkai beasts that wanted to attack him into ice sculptures.

The slightly burned hand still held the flaming sword. Even though the burn was very minor, the self-healing ability of the fusion warrior made the scar fade away quickly. But at this moment, he seemed to have lost his strength and could only drag the flaming sword forward.

He looked around and listened carefully, trying to find even the slightest sign of survivors, trying to sense even a hint of familiar scent.

But the only responses he got were the cold night wind and the sound of the Honkai beast breaking through the ice.

Until the early morning sun came to him, Kevin was still standing alone on the ice.

"..."

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

[The Ninth Great Honkai/The Ninth Herrscher Crusade]——Ended, humanity won at an unprecedentedly tragic price.