Vwoooom~
A violent wave of energy began to ripple outward.
As mentioned before, the Dea Anchora was a replication of the power Bianka Ataegina used.
Renjiro could have developed his own set of battle armor—but that would take a long time.
Before that, the only way to use another's style of power perfectly was to take a shortcut.
Just like now…
At the thought, the golden-haired girl was surrounded by a ring of water-elemental energy, originally belonging to Barbara, shaped like a musical staff.
Almost immediately, a low, resonant melody began to play.
The piece, Armband, sounded like a poised strike of extinction, ready to unleash.
The scorpion monster froze, clearly bewildered.
It didn't understand music.
Naturally, it couldn't grasp what the formidable enemy in front of it was about to do.
Then…
Thrust~
The melody was still charging, yet the girl surged forward again.
This time, she fully utilized the parallel chant technique learned, alongside martial arts taught by Zhongli.
Flames ignited on her hands.
Antares instincts sensed an overwhelming threat.
It recoiled instinctively…
Thrust~
Relying on slightly faster reflexes, the scorpion gradually widened the distance between itself and the girl.
Yet it could not relax.
With the water-elemental ring's melody continuing to echo, the deadly sense of danger only grew stronger…
Unease gripped it.
Finally…
The girl it feared most changed her form.
Thrust~
Her speed skyrocketed, instantly surpassing the monster.
Then…
BOOM~
A side kick, like a whip, struck the monster's abdomen before it could react.
Antares body was sent flying like a broken shrimp.
Whoosh~
The air-slicing sound accompanied its flight, creating a sonic wave as it plummeted toward the ground.
Until…
BOOM~
It slammed into the earth, leaving a massive crater.
The monster's body is embedded at the center, surrounded by fractured ground.
Then…
Thrust~
Just as it struggled to rise, it didn't anticipate the girl had already reached its side.
Too fast.
Her legs were now sheathed in golden armor.
The sudden surge of speed had originated from this golden armor.
Renjiro didn't indulge in explaining his powers to the enemy.
In Flying Star mode, whether running or flying, her speed and attack rate continuously increased.
Using this…
BOOM~
A punch struck the monster's bizarre armored side, shattering its shell.
Looking closer, golden armor formed on her forearms as well.
And this was only the beginning.
Next…
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM~
A continuous barrage of punches, like a live-fire stream, paired with high-speed kicks, completely pinned the scorpion.
It could only act as a passive punching bag, silently taking blow after blow.
Meanwhile, the melody of the water-elemental ring quickened, enhancing the golden armor.
Starting with her feet, then forearms, shoulders… eventually extending to her back and sides, forming structures like radiant wings.
The golden-haired girl, now adorned with feathered headgear, exceeded limits in strength, speed, perception, and reflexes.
A power Antares could not match.
Finally…
Pff~
After the full barrage, the scorpion's shell was nearly stripped away.
Seizing the opportunity…
"The rules of victory are set."
The spear hovering around in midair, didn't even need to be held.
During the fist barrage, they had already positioned themselves, charging alongside the rhythm of the battle music.
At the monster's weakest defensive moment…
Pff Pff Pff~
Spears struck successively, piercing its body, immobilizing it completely.
No further finishing move was necessary.
The magic stone at its chest had already been destroyed by the first golden spear.
Its shattered body was literally propped up by the spears.
Otherwise, it would have collapsed permanently.
Seeing this…
"It's over."
The girl whispered.
Legend has many versions regarding Scorpius.
Some say it obeyed Hera's command, poisoning the defiant Orion to become a constellation.
Others say the victim was Helios' arrogant son Phaethon. Punished by Hera and Zeus for his hubris.
In short, Scorpius' ascension always involved poison.
Except in one version…
It tried to kill Hercules and failed, being crushed instead.
As Orion was restrained by Scorpius, Scorpius itself was eventually restrained.
Today…
Heh heh~
The scorpion's body began to turn to ash, emitting a terrible aura.
The golden-haired girl nearest it could truly feel it—a strong, almost tangible malice.
As if silently crying out:
"…This is the judgment of the gods…"
"…This was our world…"
"…You are the real predators…"
"…I curse you, humans, gods, all in this world…"
"…I need not reincarnate…"
"…With my soul, my flesh, I will bring total annihilation upon this world…"
EEEEEEI~~~~
Like a tormentor rising from purgatory, filled with endless rage, the scorpion monster, Scorpio, triggered its heretical inner power.
Next moment…
CLANG~
A purple pillar shot into the sky.
It drew everyone's attention.
The girl instinctively threw a weapon to intercept it.
But it was too late.
She realized the second crescent moon, supposedly vanished, had always been there, overlapping the real moon from the previous angle.
Monsters—especially ancient ones—are cunning.
They know how to hide, concealing their ultimate strike.
At this moment, witnessing the tainted Moon God's arrow forming in the sky…
"If that thing falls, even if it doesn't destroy the lower world, at least this continent will cease to exist."
Clarity hit her.
And then…
Hoo~ hoo hoo~
The dying Antares seemed to grin, its body utterly collapsing into ash.
This triggered an invisible mechanism.
From the sky, the extinction arrow shot forth.
The true cataclysm fell from the heavens.