A certain White haired sword immortal who wished to remain anonymous once said to a certain blond-haired, warm-hearted citizen:
"There's no rule that a fake can't beat the original."
Although this statement isn't particularly complex, it contains a great deal that requires careful judgment.
What is the original?
What is the fake?
When the value of the fake surpasses that of the original, which one should truly be called the fake?
But no matter what— one thing is certain:
The line between fake and original is not unbreakable. Rules based on value can be changed at any time for various reasons.
In other words—rules are meant to be broken!
There's no rule that a fake can't beat the original.bSimilarly, there's no rule that a baseball bat can't defeat the claws of a Doomsday Beast.
Gripping the baseball bat in her hand, Bai Ming firmly believed this.
After circling once in the air, the Doomsday Beast, as if having found an opening, flapped its massive wings and charged forward, bringing a fierce gale with it.
"Big version of Benares, is it? I'm gonna take you down today!"
[Neko Charm]!
As she input the classic command, golden light once again shimmered around Bai Ming. It was the long-accumulated [Burst].
Based on the [Burst Mode], it released the Honkai energy from the back power furnace at several times the normal rate, significantly enhancing the combat capabilities of the battlesuit for a short period.
The practical effect now was to push her body beyond normal physical limits!
All her stats skyrocketed rapidly for a brief time.
If she could do this then maybe she'd have a chance to block that attack, right?
Staring at the giant claw hurtling toward her, Bai Ming's eyes showed unprecedented determination.
But often, objective reality doesn't change based on subjective will.
The Doomsday Beast's massive claw struck right on time, immediately clashing violently with the baseball bat.
Just from that single contact. Bai Ming instantly realized that this creature was far more than just a bigger version of Benares.
The force, the power, everything about it.
The being known as the Doomsday Beast likely had stats that were the square no, the cube—of Benares!
Bai Ming could feel her [Domain Set: White Comet] issuing overload-like warnings.
The Doomsday Beast before her was absolutely no joke.
But she couldn't give up yet!
Bai Ming resisted the Doomsday Beast with her [Battlesuit: White Comet] pushed to its absolute limit. However, their strengths were clearly not on the same level.
Crack. Crack—
Bai Ming's feet were actually grinding two grooves into the platform's deck.
It showed just how much pressure her body was under.
"Bai Ming…" March 7th, whom she was protecting, had fully realized the scale of the crisis before them.
"Life, death, reality, illusion—all but a single thought A myriad realms, but a long dream
Break!"
Following a series of exceptionally cool lines, Dan Heng flashed forward, charging straight into the fray. His sharp spearhead aimed directly at the Doomsday Beast's giant claw, joining forces to hold back the attack that was pushing Bai Ming back.
And that was just the beginning.
Right after Dan Heng charged in, another sound echoed through the area. The machine that had been wreaking havoc among the Tramplers and Rangers earlier now appeared at the center of the battlefield.
Bai Ming finally got a clear look at its hidden sparking chainsaw. Needless to say this was Himeko's assistance.
With Himeko and Dan Heng joining the fight, the tide of battle instantly turned.
Simultaneously enduring three different attacks, the Doomsday Beast let out a roar and began circling high above once more.
Bai Ming immediately seized this opportunity to pull March 7th away from the battlefield!
But, no sooner had she set March 7th down than Bai Ming turned right back around.
"Bai Ming, where are you going?"
"To find the Doomsday Beast." Bai Ming waved a hand behind her. "Remember to watch closely, March!"
"The me from now on is gonna be super cool!"
"Huh?"
Watching Bai Ming walk away against the light, March 7th was momentarily stunned.
She didn't seem afraid at all?
Bai Ming was no fool. Although the [Valkyrie Burst] duration had ended, during the earlier struggle she had sensed that, besides the power of the Valkyrie battlesuit, there was another voice within her body!
Whatever it was as a Captain, she had to use everything at her disposal! She'd treat it as a trial run!
[Time Fracture] had reset its available uses. And the Doomsday Beast had recovered from the combined assault.
Just as Himeko had said, its target was never March 7th—it was Bai Ming.
Seeing her walking alone toward it, it immediately felt the urge to attack.
"Roar—!"
The Doomsday Beast let out a thunderous roar, and the space around it seemed to vibrate along with it. It circled once, gathering momentum, and charged straight at Bai Ming!
"Phew." Bai Ming looked at the oncoming Doomsday Beast and let out a soft sigh.
"I didn't notice before, but now that I see you clearly, besides looking like Benares, you also kinda resemble Dvalin…"
As soon as the words left her mouth, human and beast crossed paths.
The Doomsday Beast flew away from the deck once more. And Bai Ming's figure had vanished from where she stood.
March 7th immediately panicked. "Huh?! Bai Ming?!"
Unlike March 7th, Himeko looked up at the Doomsday Beast soaring above the deck.
First, she was startled, then she showed a somewhat complicated smile.
"Little March. Bai Ming is on top of the Doomsday Beast."
"What?!"
March 7th looked up. Just as Himeko had said, similar to when she fought the Trampler, Bai Ming was now riding directly on the Doomsday Beast's draconic head.
"How did she do that?" March 7th stared in disbelief. "The Doomsday Beast is so powerful, after all."
Himeko shrugged. "Is that so? I'm not really surprised. Bai Ming is the kind of person who would do something like this, isn't she?"
"…"
March 7th fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "That's true… If she were normal, she wouldn't be herself."
"But…" March 7th looked up at the sky above the deck.
"Won't this be dangerous?"
"Who knows?" Himeko also looked up at the Doomsday Beast soaring overhead.
"After all, if she weren't riding it right now, I'd just use the orbital cannon."
"Huh—?!"
Meanwhile.
Bai Ming was fully aware of how she had gotten up there.
It was the effect of [Time Fracture].
At the moment she and the Doomsday Beast crossed paths, she used it to evade the first claw strike. Then, using the remaining [Time Fracture] charge, she reached the top of its head.
As a Level 60 Traveler and Level 88 Captain, Bai Ming had long wondered what it would feel like to actually ride Benares—or Dvalin.
And now, she finally understood what it felt like.
Thanks, but no thanks!
It's really uncomfortable! This is no place for a person to sit! It's hard, prickly, and there's nowhere to put your feet! Seriously!
This experience is just awful!
But, it would be over soon.
Utilizing the enhancements from [Battlesuit: White Comet] on her body, Bai Ming began to respond to that voice within her.
Red and blue neon lights began to glow on the baseball bat in her hand. They swirled around the previously ordinary-looking (at least on the surface) baseball bat, forming something akin to sword energy around it.
Although she felt as though the Doomsday Beast's head was protected by something she couldn't quite perceive since she was already up here, she had to give it a little baseball bat shock.
Raising her baseball bat high, Bai Ming's eyes reflected the light shining upon it.
"Fall down already!"
With a loud thud, the baseball bat struck the Doomsday Beast's head, emitting a dazzling cross-shaped glow.
The entire starry sky above the deck seemed illuminated by the impact.
The Doomsday Beast, which had been swaggering just moments before, instantly lost its momentum. Then—it plummeted toward the platform's deck, with Bai Ming still on top!
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A/n: Hey over on my patreon there are currently two for the time being exclusive books which are
Life Simulator: Starting in Genshin Impact!
Zenless Zone Zero: Loving Daily Life Starting in New Eridu
patreon.com/deadlygoober