Boom!!!
The violent clash of two figures sent shockwaves that tore apart the concrete ground, collapsing several skyscrapers within a hundred-meter radius.
Wendy, unable to withstand the recoil, was sent flying hundreds of meters, crashing through countless buildings.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
After finally crashing into a store, Wendy tasted blood in her mouth before being buried under the rubble of the collapsed building.
In terms of individual capability, Wendy was undoubtedly in the S-rank realm.
However, even S-rank Valkyries enter the battlefield equipped with specially designed Valkyrie armor and powerful weapons.
Just like a certain overpowered blonde duck, the difference in combat power with and without armor was vast.
This was even more true for someone like Wendy, who, though a genius, was still a normal person.
At this moment, Wendy was fighting barehanded, aided only by thousands of worker bees.
Against a pseudo-Herrscher, she could still fight, but it was far from easy.
Wendy pushed the concrete slab off her body and had just gotten up when an ominous figure, wrapped in black patterns, violently burst through the obstacles in front of her.
Boom!!
Under the impact of immense power, Wendy crossed her arms to block the attack, leaving trails of damage over dozens of meters as she was pushed back.
She shook her numb arms, grimacing.
"This is getting troublesome," she muttered.
If fully equipped, she could easily take down a pseudo-Herrscher with a single punch.
But now, it was proving much harder.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The swarm of bees in the sky continuously launched ranged attacks: lasers, infrasound waves, ball lightning.
These powers, which could easily destroy Honkai beasts, were insignificant against a pseudo-Herrscher.
Apart from causing the shadow to roar in irritation, they had no effect.
"Icarus, warn the nearby support troops. Titans are fine, but anyone below S-rank and S-rank candidates shouldn't approach. They can't withstand these attacks," Wendy ordered as she shook off her hands, clenching them into fists.
The gap between an A-rank Valkyrie and a pseudo-Herrscher was vast.
The gap between a pseudo-Herrscher and an S-rank Valkyrie was another chasm—of course, that's referring to fully armed S-rank Valkyries.
And the difference between an S-rank Valkyrie and a fully-fledged Herrscher? That's difficult to compare, as each S-rank and each Herrscher are unique, and there are so few of them that it's hard to say who would win without them actually fighting.
In any case, Wendy charged forward.
Although she was barehanded, Wendy was an outstanding student among her peers.
Fully exerting herself, each strike she landed had the power to shatter mountains and crack the earth.
She fought the pseudo-Herrscher, who seemed to specialize in physical enhancement, to a standstill.
Buildings were continuously leveled, discharges and fires caused by the explosion of electrical equipment spread everywhere, and the earth's rumbling could be heard clearly for miles.
This fierce struggle continued for half an hour.
Wendy finally managed to take down the pseudo-Herrscher, who was closest to full evolution.
Although, in the high concentration of Honkai energy, it was hard to determine whether this pseudo-Herrscher would awaken again.
Wendy, gasping for breath, lifted the pseudo-Herrscher's body and declared her victory.
"Icarus, bring over the restraint equipment. Take her back and see if she can be saved. If not, hand her over to Sigurd for dissection. Although I don't like it, it's the most efficient use of resources," Wendy said.
She lifted the girl's hair, revealing her peaceful face, which seemed to exude a sense of relief.
Wendy sighed.
Herrschers aren't necessarily born of their own will.
If they are, it usually involves a painful story—those who seem hateful often have pitiable circumstances.
Wendy felt that this saying accurately described Herrschers.
She hoped that this girl's story wasn't too tragic; it would make Wendy feel a bit better.
Several worker bees brought over the Honkai energy restraint devices and took the pseudo-Herrscher, who was either dead or unconscious.
Wendy then looked up and asked, "Any news on Seele and the others? When will my Black Armor arrive?"
"Notification: The whereabouts of Miss Seele and her companions have not yet been determined, but no information on Black Armor damage has been found. Your backup Black Armor will arrive in twelve minutes."
"Still haven't found them? Damn it! Could something really have gone wrong? Never mind, you're more efficient at finding people. Keep searching. Give me the direction of the next pseudo-Herrscher," Wendy demanded.
"Notification: You have expended a great deal of energy. It is recommended to rest temporarily and await reinforcements or the arrival of your Black Armor," Icarus suggested.
"They could become full Herrschers at any moment. If I take down one more, the future risks decrease. Stop nagging, I can hold on. Just point the way!" Wendy insisted.
"As you wish."
Whoosh!!
Before Icarus could direct her, a sharp sound of wind suddenly pierced the air.
Wendy's ears twitched, and her body reacted faster than her consciousness, flipping backward several times to dodge the lightning-fast assault.
Bang!
A thick, vine-like object extended from afar, leaving a deep groove in the ground where it struck.
The force was swift and concentrated, and a corrosive mark and acrid smell were left where it landed.
"Huh?"
Wendy frowned, but before she could ask, Icarus had already provided an answer:
"Notification: The target is another pseudo-Herrscher lurking in the nearby area, suspected of controlling mutated plants to attack. Physical attacks contain corrosive toxins. It is speculated that due to the defeat of the pseudo-Herrscher in this region, this one has come to eliminate the threat. Warning: Neurotoxins detected in the air; composition unknown, specific effects unclear, danger level unassessed. Evacuation is advised."
"Poison?"
Wendy quickly covered her nose, holding her breath as she frowned in frustration.
Moments later, a girl entwined with green vines and leaves appeared, floating in mid-air in front of Wendy.
Wendy considered retreating.
However, her senses told her that the energy intensity of this pseudo-Herrscher had already surpassed that of her previous opponent.
Retreating might be safer, but if she allowed this to continue, a new Herrscher could be born right before her eyes.
Her heart sank, and Wendy made her decision.
"Icarus, create micro-currents in the air to disrupt the neurotoxins."
"Warning: The toxin's composition is still unclear, possibly containing Honkai energy factors. Micro-currents may not completely neutralize the toxin."
"It's better than nothing. I'll try to make this quick. Support me with all you've got."
"Yes."
Wendy wasted no more words.
In the blink of an eye, she had rushed in front of the green-clad girl, her palm, as heavy as a mountain, thrusting forward with a tearing wind.
Boom!!!
The palm wind shredded countless vines, clearing a fan-shaped area behind the pseudo-Herrscher.
However, Wendy's actual palm, which carried her full strength, was entangled by countless tiny vines, stopping just inches from the enemy's forehead.
Wendy's expression remained unchanged.
Her arm trembled slightly as she used a subtle force to break free from the toxic vine's binding, simultaneously sweeping her leg in a powerful kick that connected with the enemy.
Bang!
Like a golden right foot striking a soccer ball, the pseudo-Herrscher was kicked back a hundred meters, crashing into the ground and creating a deep crater.
Wendy glanced at her sleeve, which had been completely corroded, revealing her arm. She tore away the useless fabric and frowned slightly.
She felt it.
Before the impact, the pseudo-Herrscher had used vines to shield herself.
This strike likely did not achieve much.
As expected, from within the smoke-filled crater, dozens of vines shot out like arrows, aiming directly at Wendy.
'The corrosion is too strong; it's not wise to take them head-on.'
Deciding swiftly, Wendy landed and immediately dodged, avoiding each attack.
'This one is different from the last; more agile and adept at countering close-quarters combat. But that also means her physical defense isn't that strong. Perhaps I can end this quickly.'
Thinking through her strategy, Wendy continued to dodge on the ground, evading a round of attacks.
She quickly identified a route to advance and sprinted forward like a gust of wind.
'I need to be fast and strong, penetrate the vines, and strike a fatal blow!'
Resolute in her decision, the hundred-meter distance vanished in the blink of an eye.
Wendy appeared before the girl, who was shielded by layers of vines, and struck with a palm that sounded like thunder.
Boom!!
The immense power shattered the resilient vines, the force going beyond the defense and directly hitting the girl's chest, causing a deep dent in her chest.
Before the pseudo-Herrscher could react, Wendy's other palm, which she had been holding back, descended with the fury of a storm.
The terrifying force, encompassing the might of nature, pushed forward.
"Internal Force · Mountain Crusher!"
Internal Force Fist, one of Fu Hua's secret martial arts techniques, is a purely physical attack that harnesses Honkai energy, maximizing the destructive power of the physical body.
Though Wendy's progress in Tai Xu Sword Qi was average, her mastery of the Internal Force Fist had earned her a true understanding of Fu Hua's teachings.
This palm strike landed on the pseudo-Herrscher's chest, first shattering the immense Honkai energy she had accumulated, then breaking all the bones in her strange body.
Finally, the force penetrated her chest, the energy imprinting onto the ground from a distance, shaking the mountains and causing the earth to sink three feet.
Boom!!!
<+>
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Latest Chapter in Ko-Fi: Chapter 274: Infighting? A Hundredfold Payback![2]
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