"Huh? Self-doubt? How could that be? I'm Fubuki, the magnificent Hellish Blizzard. How could something like self-doubt ever happen to me? After all..."
"Alright, no need to explain."
Qingshui cut off Fubuki's flustered explanation, waving his hand to block the Selfie Queen's attack. Golden Chains of Krakkan spread from his feet, precisely binding a large group of ordinary people around the Selfie Queen and tossing them towards Fubuki.
"You should take these ordinary people and leave first. After all, your power has been greatly weakened now. You won't be much help against a Monster of this caliber."
Qingshui pointed at the ordinary people, speaking without ceremony.
He didn't want Fubuki taking any more credit.
Because he still needed to thoroughly study this Monster's mind domain ability.
It was a Demon-level Monster after all, quite powerful. In a city environment, if he didn't want to cause excessive damage to the downtown area, he'd have to control his strength. He lived in City D himself, and he couldn't let these Monsters destroy it.
In that case, if he had to divert some of his attention to protect Fubuki and a large group of ordinary people, it would be very troublesome.
If Fubuki could exert her full strength, while she couldn't defeat a Demon-level Monster, she could at least defend herself and somewhat restrain the enemy. But now Fubuki's strength was suppressed to half her usual level, which would only hold them back.
Fubuki herself could see these things.
If she hadn't been suppressed, she might have been able to help against the Demon-level Monster, but in her current state, how could she not know she was just a burden?
She was just unwilling, and she knew where her self-doubt came from.
It was because of Tatsumaki, her elder sister, who had always been far superior to her in every aspect since childhood.
From the moment she achieved her first "first place" in her life, she treated that B-class first place like a treasure, which showed how much Fubuki cared about being number one.
Deep down, she actually lacked confidence.
Because she knew how vast the gap was between her and truly powerful individuals.
To outsiders, she was the glamorous B-class Queen, full of confidence, but this was actually just a protective shell, a disguise.
The so-called Blizzard Group wasn't just about Fubuki wanting to achieve something to prove herself. On a deeper level, it represented her subconscious choice to unite small individuals and huddle together for warmth because she recognized her own lack of strength.
"You last time..."
"Why aren't you leaving quickly? Hurry up and take them out for treatment, or wait until I'm done fighting and I'll heal you, so your sister doesn't come looking for trouble with me."
Qingshui forced the Selfie Queen back with a sword thrust, then spoke to Fubuki.
Fubuki clenched her fists.
It was because of her sister again!
Last time, was that guy also holding back because of her sister?
Yes, her sister appeared not long after he left, clearly he had sensed her sister's presence, and she hadn't.
And here she thought their strength difference wasn't great, that they were evenly matched.
"I say, you two, flirting and bickering, do you really need to put on such a melodramatic show in front of me? No matter what, you'll ultimately only become devotees kneeling at my feet, admiring my peerless beauty."
The Selfie Queen yawned, looking rather bored. She even pulled out a small mirror and foundation and began to touch up her makeup.
And with this action, Qingshui could feel that the confidence-related mind domain emanating from her had intensified.
What was this?
Did she feel more beautiful after touching up her makeup, and thus more confident?
"Then I'll leave first!"
Fubuki bit her lip, a look of unwillingness on her face. She waved her hand, using her psychic powers to bind the ordinary people present, and dragged them as she ran outside.
Only then did Qingshui turn to face the Selfie Queen.
"Well, now that the nuisances are gone, you can bring out all your abilities."
He could sense that the Selfie Queen hadn't been using her full power earlier.
"It's good they're gone. They're just a bunch of ordinary people with no abilities. If I can make a strong person like you succumb to my beauty, that would be the best testament to my peerless face."
The Selfie Queen put away her small mirror and foundation compact, then winked at Qingshui.
Another wave of charming hearts flew towards him.
*Boom boom boom!*
Ice Bombs shot out from the Black Samurai Armor, which had risen from the ground, raining down on the Selfie Queen.
This was to control the battlefield, ideally confining the fight to this area.
On the ground, streaks of lightning, accompanied by wind blades, also swept towards the Selfie Queen.
*Snap!*
*Snap!*
*Snap!*
The sound of camera shutters clicked repeatedly. The Selfie Queen constantly struck various poses, releasing selfie rays that precisely collided with and exploded the Ice Bombs, creating ice flowers filled with cold air in mid-air.
Above the ground, nine retouched selfies appeared, blocking attacks for the Selfie Queen. The slight cracks that appeared on them self-repaired almost instantly.
Qingshui's eyes shifted slightly, noticing that the Selfie Queen's mind domain had significantly strengthened again.
"Selfie Queen, Stage Two Form: Influencer Filter!"
"My beauty is eternal, indestructible. There's no need to try so hard."
The Selfie Queen pouted, releasing countless pink hearts that flew and shot in all directions.
Qingshui was too fast for her to track, so she could only compensate with wide-range attacks.
"Not necessarily."
Qingshui held his black steel longsword in one hand, his figure as elusive as flowing water. He moved against the flow, charging towards the Selfie Queen.
The sword was an extension of the fist. Many techniques from the Fist of Flowing Water, Crushing Rock could be applied to swordplay with only minor adjustments to the force exerted.
With Qingshui's mastery of swordsmanship, this was naturally not difficult.
What was harder was to be like Bang, flowing like water, capable of penetrating everything, and theoretically, seizing every weakness!
In a trance, it was as if thunder exploded and wind and rain surged.
Qingshui's strongest affinities were with lightning and wind, but precisely because of this, he also had a high compatibility with certain properties of water and fire.
Lightning was inherently a descent of heavenly fire; both forms of energy had a high degree of similarity, and wind could also fuel flames.
The same was true for water.
Accompanying the wind and lightning to the scene was naturally the torrential rain falling from the sky.
The ceaseless sword energy, like a downpour under wind and thunder, permeated everything, stirring the heart.
The Fist of Flowing Water, Crushing Rock could be watertight in defense, and in offense, it could precisely pinpoint every weakness.
Under continuous assault, the meticulously crafted Nine Palaces Diagram was quickly shattered.
Beams of bright blue sword energy crisscrossed, transforming into a surging river that rushed towards the Selfie Queen.
Qingshui had almost figured out the principle behind this guy's Mind Stone, and had even replicated and was now using it.
For those truly experienced powerhouses, the suppressive effect of this move wasn't strong. After all, even if those people's minds still had flaws, reaching their level meant they possessed the ability to confront those flaws.
At least the Selfie Queen's Mind Stone had no negative impact on Qingshui.
Of course, if the Mind Stone were strong enough, it might even draw out the opponent's inner demons, which would be even better.
However, in most cases, the Mind Stone could exist as a positive buff for oneself and allied units.
Qingshui himself had already derived the Perfect Mind Flow technique from the Mind Stone, allowing him to always perform at the peak of his current state.
But this Mind Stone directly projected one's mental power into reality for enhancement. Extending it further, one could even use their mental power as a catalyst to boost allied morale, allowing teammates to also enter a perfect mental state.
If it could affect the enemy's state, thereby weakening their strength, then it could naturally also enhance allied states.
The Marvel Universe avatar, when possessing the Mind Stone, could also achieve this. However, he still understood the 'what' but not the 'why.' He simply intended to do it, and the Mind Stone, a top-tier treasure of the Marvel Universe, directly bypassed most of the steps from beginning to end for him.
"Not bad, I didn't expect such an unexpected gain."
About half an hour later, Qingshui, having dismissed his Black Samurai Armor and now in casual clothes, nodded with satisfaction. He looked at the scattered selfie sticks on the ground and the Selfie Queen, whose body was covered in runes, sealed and controlled by the Blood Funeral Seal.
He had captured a Demon-level Monster alive.
The Selfie Queen's normal strength was estimated to be at the lower end of Demon-level. With the Influencer Filter, her confidence increased, boosting her strength to mid-Demon-level.
For a monster like this, according to the Hero Association's purchase price, a corpse would be worth around 60 to 70 million Japanese yen. If captured alive, the price could be two or three times higher, likely at least 200 million.
But more valuable than the 200 million yen was the ability of the Mind Stone.
While the stronger one was, the less improvement it could provide, with Qingshui's mental abilities, it could still elevate his overall strength by another level.
At least, dealing with weaker Dragon-level Monsters shouldn't be much of a problem now.
Hero Association staff quickly arrived at the scene to retrieve the Selfie Queen's body.
"Estimated base recovery price is 63 million Japanese yen. Because it was captured alive, and based on the monster's physical integrity and ability characteristics, the total recovery price after calculation is 191 million Japanese yen.
Ms. Fubuki, before Mr. Qingshui's arrival, held off the monster for nearly a minute. She will receive ten percent of the base recovery price, which is 6.3 million Japanese yen."
An Association executive with an eyepatch, after examining the sealed Selfie Queen, began typing on a calculator on the spot.
This was McCoy, an executive from the Hero Association's Second Action Division.
A man who practically had "ambitious" written on his face.
His reputation within the Hero Association was polarized. Those who thought well of him believed he was highly capable and decisive. Those who thought poorly of him felt his working style was too opportunistic, often leaving many lingering problems.
In short, he was a man eager for "advancement" and not lacking in ability.
This time, because it involved a Demon-level Monster, and specifically a live capture, an executive-level Association staff like him was dispatched to handle the recovery and aftermath.
Because for living monsters, especially high-level living monsters, the top brass of the Hero Association placed extreme importance on them.
"So, about 185 million will come to me."
Qingshui propped his chin with one hand, glanced at Fubuki, who had rushed back, and nodded with satisfaction.
To be precise, it was 285 million. The Blizzard Group still hadn't accounted for 100 million.
Speaking of which, with Fubuki and the Blizzard Group's capabilities, after all this time, shouldn't they have gathered 100 million Japanese yen by now?
"Mr. Qingshui!"
Fubuki, panting, scurried over to Qingshui. The bandages on her arm were still faintly stained with blood, and she was using her psychic powers to drag a meticulously wrapped gift box.
Qingshui's eyes immediately lit up.
Did she manage to gather the 100 million?
Oh, it's just 100 million yen, yet she's using a gift box to wrap it. How formal.
Because the gift box was covered by Fubuki's psychic powers, Qingshui couldn't use Transparent World to see what was inside.
"Ahem, Miss Fubuki, you're injured. Let me help you with that."
Qingshui coughed twice and spoke to Fubuki with a pleasant expression.
Even if it wasn't for her sister's sake, just for the sake of that 100 million yen, helping Fubuki heal was a simple matter.
"Then... that would be bothering Mr. Qingshui!"
A faint smile bloomed on Fubuki's face as she nodded to Qingshui.
Even though her psychic powers actually had healing effects, based on the experience she gained from that forum post about getting along with otaku, increasing positive interactions between both parties helps to bridge the distance.
Though it feels a bit too close, this should still count as a positive interaction, right?
And since I'm your ideal type, you, an otaku who's been single for over ten years, must be quite excited, right?
Then, when I present the gift that this Queen has carefully prepared, wouldn't you, in your excitement, be completely at my mercy?
As for joining the Blizzard Group...
Thinking this, the smile on Fubuki's face grew even brighter.
...
Meanwhile, in the sky, an older loli who had heard about her sister's injury was using her psychic powers to hide herself, biting on a handkerchief, eyes wide as she stared down below.
So Fubuki likes that guy!
He looks decent enough. As for strength, being able to take care of a Demon-level Monster is barely acceptable. I can't tell his age, but his demeanor suggests he's the type to show off his abilities.
No wonder he could trick a naive young girl like Fubuki!
Hmph!
Fubuki and I are supposed to be close sisters, but little Fubuki hasn't given her sister a single gift since she grew up. Instead, she gave one to this...
Hmm... pretty boy!
I need to find a way to properly test his loyalty to Fubuki!
If he's not suitable, then she shouldn't blame her sister for breaking them up!
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