Luo Lin couldn't discern Senti's mood. She nervously observed the "Herrscher of Sentience" across from her, who covered her face with one hand, assuming a very familiar pose.
"Damn it! How is this possible, how could it end up like this..."
The grey-haired girl glared angrily at 'Fu Hua'. "You stole my power!"
"What do you mean, stole? You couldn't even use it yourself. Isn't it fine if I take it?"
'Fu Hua' instinctively retorted, only realizing afterward the implications of her words.
The "Herrscher of Sentience" became furious. She leaped up, transforming into a purple phoenix, tearing open a brilliant purple vortex in the sky!
"—Disappear from this world, all of you!"
This scene made Luo Lin's mouth twitch. She murmured, "Do I have to say 'That's the class monitor's' as well?"
The girl glanced rarely at Kiana, seeing the fluffy white ball running over almost like flying, raising her gun to shield Luo Lin.
The "Herrscher of Sentience's" voluntary retreat relieved Siegfried. Though she caused quite a commotion in the sky, it was much better than the previous situation where they were helpless to approach the battle.
"It's just burning another arm..."
Siegfried tightened his grip on the Cleaver of Shamash, assuming a stance, preparing for a powerful attack. Unexpectedly, 'Fu Hua' intercepted his arm halfway.
"Don't be hasty..."
'Fu Hua' could tell from a glance what the guy opposite was up to. It was a variant move based on the Edge of Taixuan, perhaps mixed with some inspiration from Jingwei's [Diving Phoenix] technique. It looked imposing and indeed had corresponding power.
For others, there weren't many solutions. Either use high-powered techniques to counteract the waves or directly assassinate the user before the move is fully executed.
The former, Siegfried could accomplish with Judgement of Shamash, but at a considerable cost. The latter, if Luo Lin indeed possessed the formidable physical qualities and combat intuition like Cecilia and wielded the true Creation Key - Black Abyss White Flower, she might end the battle with a single spear throw.
If Luo Lin had such conditions, she might suppress her opponent in the first round of combat, quickly figure out their tactics, and then take down the "Herrscher of Sentience" with a relentless barrage.
But looking at their past achievements, Siegfried was evidently stronger than Cecilia. After all, he punched out the Herrscher and cut down Benares with a sword. He even "trimmed" the Earth with Might of An-Utu, leaving a deep impression on all Honkai Impact 3 players.
Why couldn't he just finish off the "Herrscher of Sentience" with a few moves?
Firstly, Luo Lin was entangled by the enemy and heavily targeted, greatly distracting Siegfried's attention.
Secondly, despite Siegfried's strength, he was seriously incompatible with the "Herrscher of Sentience." This self-proclaimed Herrscher grey-haired girl displayed astonishing battlefield mobility, employing various illusions, phantasms, and teleportation methods. Siegfried was unsure if his low-power Shamash could hit her.
To ensure a hit, he had to unleash full power, bombing the entire field, which meant losing more of his body parts.
However, 'Fu Hua' had a better option—she identified a flaw in this move and only needed to use Edge of Taixuan to counter the "Herrscher of Sentience," being absolutely certain she could defeat her.
"Watch me."
Siegfried obediently lowered his sword. He knew Fu Hua, who stood beside him, was formidable. In the Second Eruption War, her abilities had earned the trust of the grey-haired man.
Senti could feel this, especially after the black feather enhanced her passive perception of people's inner thoughts. So, she decided not to disappoint Siegfried and prepared to use Edge of Taixuan - Taixuan Eminence to dismantle the opponent's attack—
"No, where's my Blade Mantra? Oh, it was shattered before..."
'Fu Hua' reached out and found her Blade Mantra shattered. The quality of Edge of Taixuan was arguably the worst in history, making her furrow her brows involuntarily.
While Senti was probing her own physical condition, the purple phoenix on the opposite side became denser and brighter. Now, the "Herrscher of Sentience" had passed the "preparation" phase of the move. Even if Cecilia were here, she could only counterattack with Black Abyss White Flower.
"Let me see how I did it before... Burn memories? No wonder my mind is so fragmented."
'Fu Hua' looked at the black feathers providing her strength and the chaotic-colored Fenghuang Down affected by quantum erosion. She decisively grabbed both.
Senti didn't want to burn her memories nor remain powerless. So, whether it was a Divine Key or a Herrscher core, she wanted both!
A miraculous chemical reaction occurred. The Herrscher of Sentience Core bypassed the parts affected by quantum energy, directly supplying energy to the Key of Sentience - Fenghuang Down, activating overclock mode.
The two collaborated, directly reshaping 'Fu Hua's' Blade Mantra without burning a single memory, even helping her sort through them.
Though Senti's current Blade Mantra was not as enduringly intense as burning memories with Fenghuang Down, she had enough confidence to deal with her opponent.
"Very well."
'Fu Hua' squinted. She didn't think there was anything wrong with using the power of the Herrscher, just a sense of melancholy.
Unexpectedly, she, Fu Hua, the MANTIS Soldier of the ancient and modern civilizations, the guardian of the present civilization, and the Immortal of Shenzhou, had fallen to the point of needing to defeat enemies with the power of her opponents.
But this power of the Herrscher was also seized by her ability. Rounded up, it was also her strength.
Relying on her own abilities, It's not inferior at all.
In the next moment, 'Fu Hua' stepped forward.
Though she didn't have a sword in her hand, with her restored Blade Mantra, she was now the top swordsman in the world.
A bright yellow light appeared around 'Fu Hua', coalescing into a mass as she made a gesture as if holding a sword, aiming at the purple phoenix descending from the sky.
'Fu Hua' could see the distorted face within the gathered energy, which was simply too uncharacteristic of "Fu Hua."
Of course, to Luo Lin, the smile on Senti's face right now didn't quite "fit," but it was very much like Senti.
"Goodbye!"
The momentum of the purple phoenix peaked, then crashed down like the collapse of heaven and earth—just as 'Fu Hua' expected. Her sword, aimed at the flaw in this move, fiercely pierced out!
Edge of Taixuan - Eminence!
The light blinded everyone, and the thunder filled their eardrums.
Luo Lin and Siegfried relaxed simultaneously. Their keen senses detected the situation before their eyes:
'Fu Hua' effortlessly dismantled the opponent's attack, and the phoenix was torn apart under the grinding of the sword energy, falling apart.
—"The Herrscher of Sentience" was defeated.
"You fool, idiot, you don't even know who you are..."
"Swish!"
'Fu Hua' swiftly resolved the opponent, watching her turn into fragments.
Then she looked down at the Herrscher Core, still diligently providing her assistance, and at the faintly glowing Fenghuang Down, muttering in puzzlement, "What's all this about?"
"What's what about?"
'Fu Hua' looked up and saw another herself. Without hesitation, she unleashed a sword Ki—
However, this move passed through the other party directly, hitting the empty space and startling Siegfried, who was about to come over to congratulate her.
"Fu Hua? What's wrong with you?"
"I'm fine."
"I'm fine."
"Don't imitate me!"
"..."
'Fu Hua' stubbornly swung her sword again, finding that this guy was like a ghost, drifting agilely in the air.
Fu Hua glanced at Senti, then at the bewildered Luo Lin with her mouth half-open, then, almost at the same time as Senti, voiced her confusion.
"Who is this again?"