Herta Space Station.
Platform.
"Hahaha, burn to ashes, all of you." La Signora laughed loudly, wantonly wielding scorching flames. The Voidrangers who approached her were instantly turned to ashes. As several Tramplers approached, La Signora didn't hesitate to assume a bow and arrow stance.
At the same time, the Light Cone "Night on the Milky Way" attached to her left waist, which contained the power of Trailblaze and Imaginary, emitted a dazzling light. In an instant, the red flame arrow in La Signora's hand shone brightly, turning into a pure white flame arrow.
After La Signora released her grip, the pure white flame arrow instantly pierced through several Tramplers. The flame arrow then burst open, turning into scattered butterflies, flapping their wings and flying towards more Voidrangers. For a time, a large number of Voidrangers were turned to ashes by the white flame butterflies.
"What scorching flames," Himeko, standing beside Asta not far away, looked at La Signora and said with emotion. Intentionally or unintentionally, her gaze would sweep over the Light Cone "Night on the Milky Way" on La Signora's body that was emitting light.
"You noticed it too, Miss Himeko. A large part of La Signora's power is due to Lord Takagi's Light Cone," Asta said to Himeko while fighting.
"Of course I noticed. I didn't expect Lord Takagi could make her control Light Cones of two different Paths." After Himeko smashed a Voidranger away with her suitcase, she glanced at La Signora, who was grazed by a Trampler's arrow but instantly recovered because of the Light Cone "Time Waits for No One" on her right waist that shone with the power of Abundance.
"This is what makes Lord Takagi special. Himeko, if you get the chance, you should also go to Lord Takagi and buy a dedicated Light Cone. His dedicated Light Cones are really powerful." As Asta spoke, she once again mobilized Path power in conjunction with her Light Cone to use the group acceleration skill "Astral Bleat." A brilliant light enveloped Asta, Himeko, La Signora, and the other combat members, and everyone's speed immediately increased.
"I've fully felt how powerful his Light Cone is." Himeko smiled and looked at the shining Light Cone on Asta. She then turned her gaze towards La Signora, who was descending from the sky towards her and Asta's location. To be precise, her gaze landed on the Light Cone on La Signora's left waist. The closer she got to La Signora, the more she felt the extremely attractive power on that Light Cone. It was as if that Light Cone was specifically tailored for her.
"La Signora, are you alright?" Asta looked at La Signora's pierced abdomen and asked worriedly.
"Don't worry, Miss Asta, it's just a minor injury. More than that, I have to thank you for the acceleration. With this, I can burn these Voidrangers even more freely." La Signora smiled and licked her lips. The next moment, the wound on her abdomen healed due to the power of the Abundance Light Cone.
"Really, even if you have the Light Cone left for you by Lord Takagi, please don't fight so wildly. The energy in the Light Cone is limited after all. If you accidentally get seriously injured, it will be difficult for the Light Cone to heal you, right?" Asta said.
"If the strongest of the invading Voidrangers are only at the level of Tramplers, I don't think I will suffer a fatal injury." La Signora placed her hands on the Light Cones on both sides of her waist and said confidently.
"Still, be careful. Among the Voidrangers this time, there is a Doomsday Beast," Himeko said.
"Doomsday Beast?" La Signora glanced at Himeko, and gradually recalled Takagi's description of the Doomsday Beast when he was in Belobog. "The Doomsday Beast... Lord Takagi said that this is a weapon of the Antimatter Legion far more powerful than a Trampler. As I am now, I don't know if I have the strength to fight it." La Signora glanced at the two Light Cones tucked at her waist and murmured.
"No, the power of the Doomsday Beast is far stronger than a Trampler. You've already helped a great deal by helping us deal with the other Voidrangers. As for the Doomsday Beast, leave it to me to find a way. As long as the researchers at the Space Station help me regain control of the Star Destroyer that was hacked, I can immediately finish off that Doomsday Beast," Asta said with a determined tone.
La Signora frowned, subconsciously not wanting to believe it. One must know that she currently had the two Light Cones that Takagi had entrusted to her. Especially the Light Cone containing the power of Abundance, which almost gave her an immortal body. This made the confidence in her heart swell like never before.
"La Signora, so you're here." Just as La Signora was about to once again freely unleash flames to scorch the gathering Voidrangers, a familiar voice rang out not far away. La Signora turned her head and saw that the person speaking was her colleague, Dottore. And beside Dottore, were Nahida, Dan Heng, Arlan, and the others.
"Dan Heng, March 7th, you're back. These people are..." Himeko nodded to Dan Heng and March 7th, and looked curiously at Stelle, Nahida, and the others. Especially when she saw Stelle, a light flashed in Himeko's eyes.
"This is Stelle, and the others are Lord Takagi's passengers," Dan Heng said.
"Lord Takagi!" Himeko's eyes lit up, and her gaze towards Nahida, Lisa, and the others instantly brightened considerably.
"I saw your performance, truly excellent power." After casually swatting away a Voidranger, Dottore clapped his hands and came before La Signora.
"Hmph, I don't need your praise, Dottore," La Signora snorted coldly. She now looked down on Dottore, the only one among the 5 passengers before her who hadn't stepped onto a Path. Coupled with the power of the Light Cone, she looked down on Dottore even more.
"You're really aloof, but you should understand that you have your current power because of Lord Takagi, right? When Lord Takagi takes back these Light Cones, you'll revert to your original state," Dottore said with a smile.
"Even if Lord Takagi truly takes back the Light Cones, I have already stepped onto a Path," La Signora said.
Dottore shrugged, leaned closer to La Signora, and whispered: "Perhaps, you could think of some ways to make Lord Takagi leave the Light Cones with you. Columbina and the others' suggestion is good, perhaps you can consider it."
"..." La Signora was silent for a moment, then glared fiercely at Dottore: "I don't need you to tell me what to do..."
BOOM!
La Signora hadn't finished speaking. Another huge tremor struck the entire Space Station. La Signora steadied herself and turned her head to look in the direction of the impact sound. There, a gigantic mechanical flying dragon was crashing against the protective barrier at the platform.
"That Doomsday Beast is hitting the Space Station's protective barrier again," Asta said with a frown.
La Signora: "Is that thing the Doomsday Beast?"
Himeko: "At this rate, the Space Station's barrier won't last much longer."
As if to prove Himeko's words, the Doomsday Beast suddenly extended its right claw and stabbed towards the protective barrier. In an instant, everyone could see the barrier being torn open by the Doomsday Beast. Before everyone had much time to react, the Doomsday Beast had already broken through the barrier and landed on the platform where they were.
"It actually came in. Everyone, be careful." As Himeko's voice fell, everyone present adopted a fighting stance.
(Dehya: Such... such a powerful aura. Is this thing really this huge up close?)
(Kaveh: In terms of size alone, it seems even larger than Dvalin from Mondstadt.)
(Venti: Although I can't directly feel the aura of the Doomsday Beast opposite, but looking at how cautious Asta and the others are, its strength should be greater than Dvalin's, right?)
(Dvalin: I say, can you not compare me to the Doomsday Beast?)
(Venti: Can't help it, who told you, Dvalin, that you look very similar to the Doomsday Beast?)
(Dvalin: ...)
(Pantalone: Regardless, I can finally see the power of the Doomsday Beast in action. I wonder if I'll actually see the scene of the Doomsday Beast destroying a star.)
(Arlecchino: Speaking of which, with La Signora looking like this, is she planning to take the initiative to attack? It seems she didn't see the barrage where we discussed the strength of the Doomsday Beast earlier. Otherwise, she shouldn't want to challenge an existence that Lord Takagi said could bust planets.)
(Columbina: Or, she saw it but didn't believe the Doomsday Beast had that kind of power, or perhaps the two Light Cones Lord Takagi gave her gave her excessive confidence.)
"Just right, let me see what kind of power the Doomsday Beast truly possesses." La Signora's lips curled up, and she rushed towards the Doomsday Beast at an extremely fast speed, while waving her hand to summon fiery arrows aimed at the Doomsday Beast.
The Doomsday Beast also seemed to sense La Signora's intention and controlled the sharp claws that had previously torn open the Space Station's energy shield to grab at La Signora. At the same time, the Doomsday Beast's other sharp claw and the Antimatter Engine located at its center were aimed at the rest of the people.
The Doomsday Beast's speed was extremely fast; La Signora only felt a blur before her eyes, and the Doomsday Beast's sharp claws were already upon her. Her eyes widened, and she subconsciously released the fiery arrows in her hand, shooting them towards the Doomsday Beast's sharp claws. However, the fiery arrows, which could easily burn Voidranger Tramplers, shattered directly upon contact with the Doomsday Beast's sharp claws.
Subsequently, the Doomsday Beast's claws, almost without slowing down, heavily struck La Signora. Everyone only saw La Signora's body turn into an afterimage and fly towards the platform's ceiling, then fall down, landing not far from Cloud Retainer and Nahida. As for the two Light Cones she kept on her, they were also sent flying by the Doomsday Beast's power, landing in the direction of Stelle, Dan Heng, and others.
"How could this be?" Cloud Retainer looked in surprise at La Signora, who was lying in a pool of blood. Although she didn't have much fondness for La Signora, they were both travelers from Teyvat after all. Seeing La Signora in such a miserable state, Cloud Retainer still felt a bit emotional.
"How is she?" Dottore took advantage of Nahida using her power to resist the Doomsday Beast, quickly retreated to La Signora's side, and asked Cloud Retainer, who was crouching down to check La Signora's condition.
"No pulse," Cloud Retainer said with a frown.
Hearing this, Dottore immediately narrowed his eyes. He looked at La Signora's body, which was irregularly twisted and lay in a pool of blood, contemplating how to handle her.
(Tartaglia: La Signora is dead? The Doomsday Beast only used one strike?!)
(Scaramouche: What a useless fellow, to be taken down so easily.)
(Arlecchino: La Signora, holding a Light Cone, is quite a bit stronger than you or I. Her ending up in this state, while related to her recklessness, is more due to the powerful strength the Doomsday Beast possesses.)
(Pierro: The Doomsday Beast, perhaps it has already surpassed any of the Seven Archons of Teyvat.)
(Kujou Sara: The Shogun should be able to do this level of power too.)
(Yae Miko: That's hard to say. La Signora not only stepped onto a Path but also possessed two of Lord Takagi's Light Cones. Moreover, when the Doomsday Beast attacked La Signora, it was also simultaneously fighting Nahida, who received the Geo Archon's acknowledgment, and the others.)
(Azar: The first death among the travelers. As expected, Lord Takagi doesn't necessarily provide protection for passengers on the second trip.)
(Ganyu: Master... she'll be alright, right?)
(Columbina: The Light Cones La Signora carried were knocked out by the Doomsday Beast earlier, if the Light Cones return to her side, can they save her?)
(Arlecchino: That Light Cone containing Abundance power should only possess healing power. To revive someone who is already dead...)
"Try this Light Cone. The Light Cone left by Takagi might be effective." Stelle flashed over to La Signora's side and handed over the Light Cone with Abundance power that she had picked up earlier.
"It won't work. Although the Light Cone possesses powerful strength, it doesn't have the power to revive. Oh no, although Takagi mentioned not needing to provide protection for his passengers, but for a passenger to die on the first trip, Lord Takagi will be disappointed, right?" Asta fought and retreated, coming to La Signora's side, saying with a headache.
"Although I am disappointed, I am not disappointed in you, Asta. But rather, I am disappointed in La Signora." As Takagi's voice appeared, his figure also appeared beside Asta, La Signora, and the others.
"Lord Takagi, you're finally here!" Asta said to Takagi with surprise.
"To be precise, I've been watching you fight from nearby all along. I originally thought there wouldn't be a chance for me to appear. But it seems I have to appear now." Takagi squatted down and poked La Signora's face, whose pupils had already dilated, with his finger.
Roar roar roar!
At this, the Doomsday Beast roared and suddenly pounced towards Takagi.
"So noisy." Takagi took the baseball bat from Stelle beside him and swung it down at the pouncing Doomsday Beast. Instantly, the Doomsday Beast flew out of the platform at a speed faster than when it pounced, flying out of the coverage area of the Herta Space Station's energy shield.
"He actually sent the Doomsday Beast flying with a single hit?! As expected of Lord Takagi!" Asta said excitedly. Especially when she saw the scene after the Doomsday Beast flew out of the energy shield, where the hole in the energy shield that it had previously torn open was also repaired by the Space Station members.
"As expected of Takagi. Can you teach me how to use a baseball bat?" Stelle said to Takagi with glowing eyes.
"It's just brute force creating a miracle, there's no technique to speak of." Takagi said after returning the baseball bat to Stelle.
"I'm sorry, Lord Takagi, I didn't have time to help your passenger earlier." Miss Himeko saw that the Doomsday Beast in the Universe seemed to have been knocked out by Takagi with a single hit and wasn't continuing to attack the Space Station, so she strode over to Takagi's side with her long legs. Her expression was a bit conflicted. She knew she had originally wanted a better meeting environment with Takagi. But now, with her present, La Signora was killed by the Doomsday Beast. This made Miss Himeko unsure how to greet Takagi.
"No need to apologize, Miss Himeko. I had already discussed the relevant risks with these passengers before bringing them to the Space Station. They came for their own purposes, and of course, they must bear the relevant risks. Even if someone is injured or even dies, no one else is to blame. Moreover, La Signora was indeed too reckless earlier," Takagi said with some disappointment. Given that she had the two Light Cones he gave her, ending up like this was also beyond Takagi's expectation. He originally thought that although La Signora was not the Doomsday Beast's opponent, she could at least ensure she wouldn't be severely injured. After all, there were combat powers like Miss Himeko, Dan Heng, and Stelle on the platform.
"La Signora was indeed reckless. She suffered this calamity and cannot blame anyone else, much less Lord Takagi. However, La Signora is a member of the Fatui just like me. So, may I handle her body?" Dottore asked.
"No hurry, I'll first ask La Signora if she's willing to die like this," Takagi said, placing his hand on La Signora's forehead. "Are you willing... to die?"
"Lord Takagi, can I understand that you are able to bring people back to life?" Himeko asked in surprise.