"Retreat, retreat immediately, with the Chief personally covering the retreat."
Mei urged again and again. Ordinary soldiers immediately complied. On the one hand, it was absolute trust in the Chief; on the other hand, they really couldn't fight anymore, and collapse was imminent.
Even Fusion Warriors would get tired and reach their limits. Before, they could rely on Eden inspiring singing to endure, like being injected with a shot of adrenaline, their physical strength and mental state simultaneously holding on.
But now...
Honkai energy was ineffective. Without it, Fusion Warriors would not be much stronger than ordinary soldiers, and the Honkai Beasts' advantage would be infinitely magnified. After all, with such huge bodies, just charging and trampling could kill people.
Even more terrifying was the loss of mental control. The superhuman strength they relied on for survival suddenly disappeared, and any intelligent creature would be bewildered.
Fortunately, there was His Excellency the Chief covering the retreat!
Though panicked, there was no sign of collapse. That man charged at the front and retreated at the retreat, which indeed gave people peace of mind. If they collapsed all at once, the Honkai Beasts from all directions would drown everyone.
"Was this also planned? Fortunately, Kevin reacted quickly and concentrated the scattered soldiers into three groups, at least giving me the possibility of cover." Mei bit her fingernails, her eyes flickering, watching the rapidly retreating light dots on the map.
"Full firepower cover, this domain can suppress energy. Inject three times the fuel, and have the captains and vice-captains retreat in shifts. No one is allowed to object!"
Mei acted arbitrarily, completely preventing any melodramatic incidents. Fortunately, after the tempering plan, in the 'Dark Souls' simulator, those who liked to talk nonsense and vie to cover the retreat had died dozens of times. When the same situation arose in reality, the instructor's countless roaring summaries would echo in their minds:
In war, there is no need for emotion, and even less for reluctance. Imagine yourself as a machine, instinctively executing the superior's plan!
So even Kosma, Hua, and others began to retreat. Although Kevin and Elysia didn't want to leave, they were holding back a large number of Honkai Beasts. This was a good opportunity to lure them out of the battlefield. In this 'barrier', only they still had some power to resist.
The city that was once close at hand was becoming distant. Besides feeling a bit unwilling, Elysia was even more worried about Ryan. Layers of monsters had already buried their retreat path, and the chaos made it impossible to concentrate. She looked around, subconsciously pursing her lips.
"What about Ryan? He's already separated from us!"
"Don't think too much, Mei will arrange it." Kevin tried to maintain his composure. As long as that Doomsday-level Honkai Beast wanted to turn around, he would rush up and entangle it again.
Greater strength naturally drew more attention. Discovering that this battlefield was still in fierce combat, the Herrscher of Death also approached. Even though Honkai energy was equally restricted, the pervasive authority forced Elysia to concentrate.
"Restrained, truly annoying." She shot an arrow, and immediately felt that a large chunk of her remaining Honkai energy had decreased. Before the black mist struck, she quickly retreated again.
"This is the Herrscher of Binding, the worst outcome Mei had deduced." Kevin was clearly mentally prepared, rolling to dodge the black ribbon's strike, and looking around.
"Huh, where did Hua and Mobius go?"
Elysia, who was drawing her bow and arrow nearby, stiffened. Without thinking, she looked towards the city, gently biting her teeth.
"These two idiots!"
This night was extremely chaotic from the beginning, with constant pulling and reversals, reversals and re-reversals, making the battle situation fluctuate like a roller coaster. This was the ending, and also damage control.
But the Fire Moth never collapsed. The warheads falling from the sky still glowed with fire, and scattered warriors were still fighting desperately, then gathering, covering each other's retreat. Only a very few went against the current, heading towards the center of the battlefield.
Rustle—
Slender legs swept over charred leaves. Hua carried 'All Things Slumber' and ran wildly, using the remaining energy of the Divine Key to instantly kill two Honkai Beasts, silently glancing sideways.
The dark green lightning, only arm-thick, bounced off the Sanctuary-species' great shield. When the opponent charged forward with a greatsword, Hua rolled on the ground, chased after it, and the twin-bladed sword close to the ground severed the opponent's lower leg.
The Honkai Beast lost its balance and fell to the ground, then never got up again.
The Divine Key pierced through its back, freezing most of its body. The girl looked at Mobius, who was sitting on the ground, a curve at the corner of her mouth.
"There's too little Honkai energy left. At this time, we must rely on physical combat. It seems you lack exercise, Doctor."
Mobius mouth twitched. What lack of exercise? She had never practiced such a barbaric fighting style. She quickly got up from the ground.
"What are you being so arrogant about with a Divine Key in hand!"
"Key of Sentience doesn't have much Honkai energy left either, so I'm relying on skill." Hua lightly shook her sword, her tone carrying a hint of sincerity, "You logistics personnel shouldn't have come. Ryan and I have already experienced similar scenes."
Hua seemed to have a kind of magic. Her words, though sincere, could make Mobius blood pressure skyrocket, sounding extremely harsh.
A few hours ago, what did I say when I saved you?!
Sarcastic words were on the tip of her tongue, but she then saw the garbage Honkai Beast that almost stabbed her through, and could only raise her head stubbornly.
"You think a little brute force can get him out?"
"Otherwise? Let senior brother take a burden again? Go back, Mobius, there's still time." Hua squinted at the somewhat disheveled doctor, still full of good intentions.
"You!!" Mobius choked, raising her hand to point at the sky, where several tail flames were heading towards the city, though some were shot down by Honkai Beasts halfway.
Without explanation, she grabbed the girl's hand and ran.
"Come with me, we need to use our brains now!"
Clang—ding—
The katana and crimson short spear collided, splashing dazzling sparks. Ryan had almost returned to the state of an ordinary person, attacking only with the Divine Key's inherent hardness.
Ryan quickly retreated, watching the spear flowers bloom one after another in front of him, using the greatsword as a shield, firmly guarding his vital points.
When his output was restricted, Ryan discovered this was the ultimate counter.
The Herrscher of Blood's vessel, Dvalin, was a Fusion Warrior, whose spear skills and combat experience were impeccable, and his authority was perfectly utilized under this intensity.
Swish.
A bone blade struck from behind. Ryan slapped the ground, rolling in the air, and casually swung the Divine Key: Shamash, a crimson fire snake sweeping out.
The blade did not hurt Ryan at all. Ryan had already mounted the neck of this mutated Honkai Beast, and saw a red light appear in front of the fire snake, disappearing without a trace.
This environment did not allow for overload; it even seemed to actively replenish his energy, allowing for complete decomposition and absorption.
Crack.
Ryan exerted force with his legs, forcibly twisting off the head of the Honkai Beast beneath him, then kicked its back, using the momentum to jump further, and then saw that the Honkai Beast was gone.
There was no concept of friendly fire at all. The blood-colored short spear instantly pierced through the Honkai Beast, then blood spread, completely devouring the two-meter-tall body.
The Herrscher of Blood's speed increased. With a step, he appeared in front of Ryan. His left hand formed a loose fist, conjuring two blood-colored short spears, then—
Blood marks danced wildly.
The dense marks were impossible to discern any gaps. Ryan could only block based on experience, a burning pain coming from his shoulders and thighs.
The Herrscher of Blood became even more furious, recklessly unleashing energy, and then his speed increased, his attack range widened, making Ryan instantly understand:
This bastard's authority can also target the binding domain, and he is gradually regaining his strength.
The activated ice wall was pierced by a headbutt, and the spear blade reached his throat. As one waxed and the other waned, Ryan felt the situation completely reversed.
Half an hour ago, he used sheer power to overcome all techniques, pressing this Herrscher to the ground. Half an hour later, the opponent gained an advantage every second, forcing him to rely on skill to endure.
This was the true counter, this was His home turf!
"No wonder you didn't act sooner, you were waiting for this opportunity."
Ryan connected everything. The Herrscher of Binding didn't need to be too strong; He only needed to create a platform, and on this platform, who could be the Herrscher of Blood's opponent?
Pain stimulated his nerves. More and more enemies were coming from all directions. They were even laughable, forcibly joining the fight, then being devoured by the Herrscher of Blood without resistance, and the energy contributed further drove the Herrscher of Blood's authority, counteracting this ubiquitous binding.
Counteracting the binding allowed Him to use more energy, kill faster, and attack stronger.
Playing infinite loops in front of me, huh!
Ryan gritted his teeth, only able to use his remaining Honkai energy for dodging. Fortunately, he had enough authorities.
Freezing all things.
The opponent's speed slowed slightly, finally allowing him to see the spear tips stabbing from above and below. The authority of wind activated, making his body float erratically like a phantom.
The Herrscher leaned forward, and the short spear actually split apart, like a water pipe, spraying blood-red energy.
Blood release!
The clawing energy body rushed towards him. In that few tenths of a second, an electric arc formed a trajectory behind him, and with a 'whoosh', Ryan instantly flew several hundred meters, not even bothering to catch his breath, he plunged the greatsword into the ground.
Flame wall.
Flames formed a wall, like bedrock resisting the washing of 'blood'. In this dark battlefield that had returned to silence, it became the only light source.
However, Ryan would rather abandon this 'privilege'. He felt like a Fire Moth in the dark, attracting countless enemies, but he couldn't care about the Honkai Beasts, or even the Pseudo-Herrschers.
Whoosh!
The fierce flames were pierced, no, more like being disintegrated from the middle. Those blood-colored energy bodies were like being enchanted, stained with a layer of crimson afterglow, and Ryan, twisting his left hand holding the blade, the Seven Thunders of Purgation flashed with snow-white lightning.
A single strike in an instant.
The trace of the blade was invisible. Even in a bound state, Ryan was not much slower than Sakura usually. A white blade mark appeared in the center of everything in front of him, cutting the blood-colored torrent into two sections.
Time slowed down in Ryan eyes. He saw the tide of blood split into two, then like a liquid, one half turned into a scythe slashing at his legs, and the other swept over his head, reassembling into a human behind him.
Pincer attack!
The Herrscher of Blood appeared in this energy, seeing Ryan lightly jump up, dodging the slash at his feet, then turning around like a waltz, the Heaven's Incarnate greatsword slashing down.
Clang!
The Herrscher quickly gathered energy into a crimson round shield, shrinking his entire body behind it, then felt a mighty force continuously transmitted, and his entire body was sent flying backward.
Not just him, Ryan also seemed to have entered a berserk state, tearing apart all the gathered Honkai Beasts, tempering them repeatedly like forging iron.
'This human is really difficult to deal with. He can still maintain this state.'
The Herrscher of Blood felt very strange. Every time he thought the opponent had exhausted his tricks, he would always bring some surprises. His Honkai energy was too strong; at this moment, the Herrscher of Binding could not completely suppress him, and he had too many authorities, always having unexpected trump cards.
But so what? This was a sure kill meticulously planned by several Herrschers!
"Humans have retreated to the edge. Without having to suppress so many targets, the power of binding can multiply."
"How much energy do you have to consume? No creature can be my opponent in a long battle."
"Do you think, to achieve our mission, we would tolerate a trace of risk?"
You... talk too much!
The greatsword and long blade crossed, flames and lightning struck together, instantly shattering the round shield and sending the Herrscher of Blood tumbling backward.
Ryan tried his best to suppress his breathing, not letting it escape. Even though he was somewhat annoyed by the Herrscher incessant mental attacks, he admitted that everything he said was true.
The energy within the Divine Key was almost exhausted, and the noose of binding was tightening. He even saw the Ninth Herrscher charging straight towards him, completely disregarding her exhaustion, also suppressed by the binding.
But as always, creatures like Herrschers would risk their lives for even one percentage point, minimizing the possibility of a comeback from a desperate situation.
"So, to be your enemy, one must plan ahead, calculate all the worst-case scenarios, to have that slim chance of victory!"
Chance of victory? Are you in a mental illusion?
The Herrscher of Blood couldn't understand. This grand play had intelligence from the Thousand-Person Herrscher, and the strenuous thought of five Herrschers. How could there be a chance of victory?
Therefore, this was a mental hallucination produced by humans in the face of despair.
He showed a mocking smile. The opponent's shackles were tightening, while he was breaking through the shackles. He clapped his hands.
"This kind of thing doesn't even have a one percent chance."
Red energy coalesced into a giant scythe, then swung sideways, shattering the ice pillars shot from the side, and then casually brushed them aside.
Reinforcements? That's it?
A human woman was rushing over. With so little energy, it was simply a meaningless act of suicide. But just as he was about to eliminate her with a single strike, he saw another green-haired woman appear on the other side.
She was holding a strange device in her hand, gritting her teeth, as if having made some kind of decision, and plunged it into the ground.
It was too fast, without any time for hesitation. When a strange energy fluctuation surged, a hint of unease appeared in the Herrscher heart.
"Dvalin, precisely because we must turn the impossible into possible—" Ryan called out his name, invisible threads pulling four other identical devices, inserting them into the ground at the same time, forming some kind of array, making the strange energy resonate.
"Only then is it worthy of being called a miracle!!"