Many once believed Kevin represented humanity's pinnacle.
"Zeke!" On the desolate and ravaged lunar surface, Kevin roared amidst a chilling aura at Zeke. Had there been more moisture on the moon, it would have instantly frozen into vast ice mountains. However, despite the immense power behind his punch, it halted just inches from Zeke, unable to advance further.
'Bang!!'
The already devastated terrain crumbled further under the impact's aftershock. Stalled before Zeke, Kevin found himself immobilized as Zeke slowly raised his palm, with lightning dancing within its grasp.
"Kevin, retreat immediately!"
Hera extended her golden chains, wrapping them around Kevin's waist in an attempt to pull him away. Only then did she realize that Kevin wasn't intentionally resisting; he was trapped by an overwhelming gravitational force, rendering him immobile.
"Durandal, use Abyss Flower! Ellie, share the incoming damage!" Hera swiftly commanded while simultaneously deploying a Mimicry Divine Grace Barrier. She formed a chain cage around Zeke, aiming to minimize his destructive output as much as possible.
In response, Durandal decisively hurled her riding lance, embedding it near Kevin's feet, enveloping him with the stance of Wound Power.
Elysia swiftly joined Kevin's side, watching as the approaching lightning grew larger in her eyes, her adorable face filled with resignation.
"Kevin, this time you're making me sacrifice way too much. You better treat me gently from now on, okay~?" Elysia complained playfully, winking slyly.
BOOM!!!
In an instant, they were engulfed by the roaring thunderous blast.
Following the blinding shockwave, Kevin descended slowly into the crater left behind by the raging lightning, holding his riding lance in one hand and the severely injured Elysia in the other.
Mobius rushed over, injecting healing potions onto them both while grumbling irritably:
"You two really need to stop this! One hit means another dose; at this rate, no amount of my bio-potions will be enough!"
"...Sorry," Kevin apologized woodenly, being the most aggressive fighter thus far and consequently consuming the highest number of potions. However, there was little he could do—he genuinely struggled with stealthy tactics, and only he could withstand multiple waves of attacks. Often, brute force was unavoidable.
Feeling the enhanced regenerative capabilities from the medication, Kevin glanced up at Fu Hua and Hera engaged with Zeke and said, "Mobius, I know you've been holding back. It's best to unleash your full power soon; otherwise, we won't last much longer."
"Forget it! My strength comes at a cost, and I refuse to waste it on this meaningless battlefield!" Mobius appeared visibly impatient. After completing the treatment, he swiftly retreated, leaving no chance for Kevin to further persuade him.
Dealing with this eccentric and reclusive scientific genius, especially considering his familiar yet alien memory fragment version, left Kevin scratching his head, momentarily at a loss.
At that moment, Elysia chimed in with a grin: "Oh ho! Feeling quite overwhelmed now, aren't you? Why don't you plead with me? Who knows, adorable little me might just have a brilliant idea!"
In response, Kevin released his supportive hand from around Elysia.
With a startled yelp, she quickly regained her balance but then puffed out her cheeks, glaring unhappily at Kevin.
Kevin had no intention of engaging in such banter. Noticing Fu Hua and Hera launching a coordinated assault in the distance, he immediately charged forward like a fired cannonball.
"Hmm? With three forces combining and Zeke still charging up, this is our chance!"
Elysia's eyes sparkled as she turned and bent her legs, summoning a pink energy arrow. Arching her back gracefully, she formed a stunning curve with her lithe figure before releasing the shot.
"Feel the warmth from the world's cutest!" Elysia smiled, feeling her internal energy suddenly depleted.
Hera utilized Mimicry through the Void Archives to replicate Judgment of Shamash, creating a blazing inferno akin to a bright, scorching mini-sun rising above the ground.
Fu Hua channeled Short-inch Strike, harnessing the foundation of a Fusion Warrior bolstered by the Herrscher of Sentience's energy. Guided by over five millennia of martial cultivation, she conjured a colossal palm, heavy and oppressive like the heavens descending.
Kevin unleashed his full power in a straightforward punch, devoid of any frills. Yet beneath its silent intensity lurked an invisible beast's roar, exuding a terrifying pressure that instinctively evoked fear.
"Whoosh!"—Elysia's arrow arrived swiftly, resembling a pink meteor. Rapid and concentrated, even the trailing aftershock behind it shattered the earth along its path.
Each attack, individually, possessed enough destructive power to severely injure or even eliminate a Herrscher. Combined, their concentrated strength caused space itself to appear distorted.
Confronted by these overwhelming assaults, Zeke's usually indifferent golden eyes finally revealed a hint of seriousness. He raised both hands, unleashing intense bursts of thunderous flames.
"BOOM!!"
The moon, inherently silent with limited sound propagation, momentarily seemed even quieter as if the universe had been illuminated by an infinite radiance. Despite the lack of audible impact, Durandal, Mobius, and Li Sushang, observing from afar, felt as though the heavens themselves had gone mute.
After a prolonged tremor, the area where Zeke stood transformed into a massive, bottomless pit amidst swirling dust clouds—indicating that his gravitational suppression around the vicinity had dissipated; he was affected.
Simultaneously, the trio who initiated close-range attacks bore the brunt of an irresistible force, sending them hurtling backward at high speed.
"Now, Sushang!"
A Hera materialized behind Li Sushang, channeling highly concentrated Honkai Energy into her with a wave of its hand.
Li Sushang's expression turned resolute as she swiftly replenished her depleted state, damaged by resisting the lunar environment and Zeke's gravity suppression. Soon, she felt a surge of power surpassing even her peak condition.
"The Divine embodies transformation at its zenith. Without a sword yet possessing a sword, harnessing the Divine to manifest it, one can generate pure sword energy—the essence of the Divine!"
Li Sushang raised her hand, aware that this moment called for her mortal body and modest abilities. She murmured an incantation, focused her spirit, gathered her qi, and channeled the sword within her heart. An intense aura, painful to behold with naked eyes, inadvertently radiated from her.
Hera gazed upon her old friend, feeling a wave of nostalgia wash over her. With a smile, she gently pushed Li Sushang forward.
"Go forth, Sushang!" Hera sighed.
Simultaneously, Durandal rushed from another direction, prepared to provide support when Li Sushang made her move.
As the dust gradually settled, Zeke calmly brushed off his trench coat, standing tall and unscathed like a solitary pine tree.
"Taixuan... Sword Goddess!!"
Reaching the optimal distance, Li Sushang unleashed her full strength, channeling sword energy from her mental landscape through her fingertips, directing it straight at Zeke.
Zeke turned towards her, and in his vision, a colossal silver-white sword descended from above, piercing the heavens and earth alike.
"This is..." Zeke murmured, standing unmoved to face the strike.
From the outside, there was no spectacular display or sound effects. Li Sushang simply released her sword energy and collapsed from exhaustion, caught by Durandal as she retreated.
Throughout the encounter, Zeke did not counterattack at all.
After several breaths, amidst the tranquilizing surroundings, Zeke slowly lowered his head. His golden eyes gradually became vacant and lifeless, their abyssal Honkai Energy rapidly diminishing.
"Nice job! I knew it—by combining our efforts, we could dismantle the excessive Honkai Energy shield around Zeke. Sushang's Sword Goddess unleashed its full potential—we won!" Hera appeared beside Durandal and Li Sushang, proudly proclaiming.
Mobius, who was about to tend to the trio sent flying earlier, hesitated with furrowed brows—could victory be that simple?
As Hera reveled in triumph and others momentarily stood dazed, a golden glow emerged behind Zeke, transforming into an enormous clock face.
"What is this?!" Hera's smile vanished instantly, realizing a crucial oversight:
Throughout the battle thus far, Zeke had solely relied on his immense Honkai Energy reserves. So... what was his unique ability?
"Tick! Tick! Tock!!"
Under everyone's watchful gaze, the clock face's hands moved slightly forward before rapidly retreating backward.
In the next instant, the golden dial shattered explosively.
Then, Zeke raised his head, his golden eyes still radiant as ever. The boundless Honkai Energy and overwhelming gravitational force encompassing vast expanses re-emerged majestically—as if no damage had ever occurred.
"It's time manipulation!" Hera screamed.
Zeke extended his hand towards their position, unleashing a dazzling fusion of lightning and flames that engulfed everything in its path.