"The Final Herrscher…"
I stepped into the mountain's summit. We did nothing but rest during the past three days. We aren't caught off guard by its appearance.
Having the supernatural power, the Dao of Causality, I am more than qualified to divine the future.
The results of the special divination, done with the use of Hexagram Spirit, fourth grade spirit-calming incense, and a low fifth grade turtle shell bearing the Dao of Causality gave a detailed vision.
At the dawn of next yesteryear, the world's final challenge draws near.
'Yesteryear' sounds confusing at first, but this Bubble World is ultimately a thing from the past. It is simply "next year" of the current time now. The final challenge pertains to the entity they lost to, the Herrscher of the End.
With the date close at hand, I did not hesitate to do everything I could.
The seventy-three or so demon beasts I killed over the past two years gave enormous resources and combat experience. There are even five early Nascent Soul Realm demons amongst them. Fortunately, I can use my Herrscher Authority inside the Demon Arena. As long as I "stored" honkai energy before entering, I can use it as a form of limited ammunition.
The fusion of all my powers, especially the honkai-related ones, defeated these Nascent Soul Realm demons overwhelmingly.
Being a Golden Core True Lord gave a huge access towards the honkai cheats one could use. Even if you are merely built on realm, with zero attainments on techniques and specializations alike, you can defeat a Nascent Soul so long as there are honkai cheats.
Four such beings are present in this world.
This will be our first and last test run for the impending danger of the outside world.
Sou-!
The sound of a zipper rang out. Three girls, each with different bearings, appeared beside me.
Kiana and Veliona reached the late stage in all three realms. Sirin remains at the early stage.
Somehow, I could feel Sirin's unusual look towards me. When I met her gaze, she hastily tilted her head away.
"We'll be acting as planned. The formation's control will be left on Kiana. Sirin acts as standby. Veliona will come with me."
Kiana looked reluctant when she heard it. It can't be helped. Her 'hacks' rely solely on [Blade Mantra]'s [True Form] and the formation. Veliona has access to her Natural Stigma powers. The strength she can normally exert are Dharma Laws, a step above the Golden Core's Dao Laws.
Kiana did not do anything too drastic aside from pulling me for a kiss. A slight tinge of embarrassment popped up in my mind, but whenever I thought of what we did in the kitchen while the two Xuanyuans and Sirin were waiting in the dining room, it died down.
A frantic gaze landed on my being. It turned out to be Sirin.
As for Veliona…
She's pursing her lips..?
With tacit understanding, Kiana separated from me.
"Take care." She said softly.
"You too."
A minute of goodbyes came. I did not hold back and unleashed the full might of the [Cloud Seeking Step]'s [Great Accomplishment] mastery. Add to that the supernatural power of the Dao of Clouds, my speed reached above five hundred thousand mach.
From the mountain, I am now surrounded by nothing but endless expanse of space.
Spiritual qi seeped out of Earth's atmosphere, providing the necessary fuel for this upcoming fight. The middle sixth grade came from Seele alone. With the formation integrated throughout Earth, it has temporarily reached high sixth grade.
Within the confines of the Bubble World's barrier stood a huge white-haired girl. She overlooked the entire Earth beneath her cold and unfeeling eyes. They contained a hint of intelligence as a pang of realization came to her.
"I am a phantom of the past."
Her voice reached out everywhere. It is illogical with vacuum spaces, yet it happened.
Her golden eyes met mine.
"And you are the present's hero."
I paid it no heed. Three seconds are enough to form a detailed appraisal of her power.
{Herrscher of the End}
{Body: Peak Golden Core}
{Soul: Peak Divine Transformation (Indestructible Soul, Incomplete Aspects)}
{Mind: Peak Golden Core}
{Traits: Possession of [Divine Realm] integrated with thirteen authorities; immense control over honkai; body imbued with undying characteristics…}
My mind acted extremely fast.
Her strengths and weaknesses became apparent. We can contend against her in terms of body and mind, but not her soul. She hasn't reached the level of a true Divine Transformation Realm soul, only that her soul is indestructible. She could not freely exert power using it, either.
In short, we are fighting against a "glass cannon" capable of unleashing Divine Law attacks!
"Illusion or not, I will fulfill my mission."
The inevitable battle thus began.
*****
Elysia knew everything about this world.
She is an anomaly born out of a paradox. Her existence is what tilted the balance towards humanity. Her sacrifice gave humanity a huge fighting chance.
It is wrong to say that she did not feel complicated about humanity's end. She deeply regrets it. However, they did not have a choice.
"It really is different."
Her pink pupils saw a thin membrane of light envelop Earth's airspace. The proximity of the mountain formation expanded all throughout Earth. Its existence blocked out the suffocating aura from beyond the sky.
As such, people collectively returned to their usual lives.
Elysia oversaw this scene high above in the skies and fell silent.
"This is what we fought for."
A bright smile illuminated the starry night.
Her sentimental feelings lasted for a while until her gaze moved at the chaotic scene painted in the ink-like void.
Sou-!
The void was stained with milky-white cracks. Like glass, it shattered as soon as Shi Tian's body shot forward. Thousands of kilometers are traversed in a blink of an eye. His speed was only slower than light itself.
Click-!
A wave of white light swept over him. The flow of time grew increasingly slower until it 'halted'.
Under its influence, the invisible Veliona came into plain sight. The tip of her scythe was three meters away from the Herrscher's neck.
The Herrscher of the End walked with unhurried steps. A flash of rippling white light emerged underneath her feet as she moved towards Veliona.
Just as her eyes met Veliona's crimson-red pupils, the Herrscher was brought into a mental landscape.
She did not have any time to react as a multi-colored light came crashing down like a flood.
Her mind was stunned by the attack momentarily.
Shatter-!
Her control over time was forcibly halted. The blade in Shi Tian's hand is already brimming with multi-colored light stained with a noticeable purple hue.
His blade turned into white light as it shot straight to the Herrscher's head.
Sou-!
Crack-!
Shatter-!
The sword tip was inches away from her forehead when it could no longer proceed further. A membrane of gray light stopped it on its tracks. Only the multi-colored light remained unaffected as it shot through the Herrscher's mind once again.
The three second-long stun broke her control over the [Divine Realm] once more.
Psshk-!
The white light formed by the sword pierced straight through her head. Not a trace of blood could be seen; merely particles of white light. Veliona moved as fast as her scythe passed through her body.
Psshk-!
The scythe penetrated her body. Veliona attempted to drag out her "soul", but it felt unmovable to Veliona. She gave up her attempts and kicked the Herrscher away.
Zoom-!
Click.
Shi Tian looked at the headless Herrscher of the End. He did not lower his guard.
Zoom-!
The Herrscher's body became blurry. As if time was reversed, she returned to her pristine state. Veliona's attack seemingly did nothing.
The first thing she did was exact revenge over Veliona.
Crack-!
Bam-!
Her scythe shattered as she was flown across the expanse of the void. Shi Tian's body flashed and caught on her back.
"Indestructible soul… no wonder they can't defeat her."