The Herrscher of Corruption's final form had shrunk to less than three meters. It didn't even look taller than the Knight-class Honkai beasts that Kallen usually dealt with casually.
But despite that, Kallen still felt despair. The Herrscher was now in front of her.
Clang!
The Oath of Judah flew out of Kallen's hand when it was struck by the Herrscher's paw. The hundred-kilogram weapon was flung into the nearby ruins, kicking up dust and debris.
With the center point of her attacks now gone, the gears and chains in the air shattered, turning into countless specks of light. The Honkai energy that had been suppressed began to return.
Eleanor had been sent flying and her fate was unknown. Otto had been stabbed through his chest. She was now too weak to even stand…
Kneeling on the ground, Kallen let out a bitter laugh. Is Honkai really so unstoppable?
"You insects did pretty well for a while."
The Herrscher of Corruption felt the Honkai energy returning to her and took a breath. Her tiny body began to grow once again.
"But unfortunately for you, you met me. So—"
The Herrscher walked over to Kallen and raised her claw. "Die."
Kallen didn't react. She didn't even try to dodge. She had completely run out of energy and had already lost consciousness.
A beam of purple light shot out, turning Kallen's location into a pile of rubble!
But there was no body in those ruins.
"…I'm too late."
Lihua gently placed Kallen in a safe corner. She had rushed over as fast as she could. But when she arrived, Kallen was about to be killed by the Herrscher.
Luckily, the Herrscher of Corruption's condition was still weak, allowing her to save Kallen's life.
"Who are you?"
"Someone… who accomplished nothing…" Lihua sighed. She then looked at the Abyss Flower and Judgement of Shamash in her hands.
Which one should I use to fight the Herrscher of Corruption?
She had picked up the Abyss Flower along the way. Lihua had almost had a heart attack when Eleanor was suddenly flying through the air toward her. Luckily, she was alright, although she was in shock.
Lihua had simply laid Eleanor down somewhere safe and took the Abyss Flower.
Though she had obtained the Abyss Flower, she still thought the Judgement of Shamash was better. It was a weapon that had the most destructive power. It had little flaws, besides draining its user's life…
But the Herrscher of Corruption didn't seem to agree with Lihua's thoughts. The light in her eyes flickered for a moment, before focusing on Lihua again.
She asked once more, "Who are you?"
"Is that important?" Lihua assembled the Judgement of Shamash into its greatsword form. She looked at the Herrscher of Corruption and raised the blade at her. "But if you insist, I'll be merciful and tell you."
"I am Lihua Kaslana. Someone who is going to make up for her mistakes by eliminating you here."
"…You want to seal me again?" After a long silence, the Herrscher of Corruption laughed. "Do you really think you can do it?"
"It's not a question of whether I can do it or not. It's that I have to do it."
Lihua didn't look back at the fallen Kallen and Otto. She gripped her Judgement of Shamash tightly. Warmth flowed through her body from the blade. For some reason, she felt calm. "Because I'm the only one left here."
The Herrscher of Corruption's body didn't keep growing. It had remained at around 10 meters tall. It didn't seem as though she had recovered her full power.
"I am very strong, you know?" Lihua said casually, raising the Judgement of Shamash. Kallen and the others were defeated in a three-on-one fight. How could she be a match for the Herrscher?
Even if the Herrscher wasn't at her full power, Lihua's combat ability was still trash. She could only try to stall for time. And then use the Judgement of Shamash.
Whether I'll win or not, it depends on the Judgment of Shamash. The relics of the Previous Era, please be reliable!
"If that's the case, then I will deal with you seriously."
The Herrscher of Corruption seemed to have believed Lihua's nonsense. She took a defensive stance, and dark purple energy gathered in front of her, forming a black orb that emanated an immense power of destruction.
That looks like a Tailed Beast Bomb. Did you pay the copyright fee? Lihua thought.
However, she was thankful that the Herrscher had chosen to charge up her attack. If the Herrscher had rushed toward her and killed her, there wouldn't be anything that she could do. Since she couldn't move during the charge-up, she had to use the Judgement of Shamash's full power!
Those Kaslana family heads in the past could use Judgement of Shamash to take down Honkai Emperors. Maybe, she could take down the weakened Herrscher with it too?
She also had Rapid Recovery and Advanced Honkai Resistance now. That should make her stronger than the old male Kaslana family leaders.
It's too bad that Otto, Kallen, and Eleanor are down. I won't get any energy from them when I die.
I'm at a crucial point for harvesting energy, but I can't get any!
Lihua slowly raised the Judgement of Shamash. Her expression was unusually sorrowful. "For the peaceful lives of everyone in this world, I'm going to activate…"
"Li, Lihua…"
An unexpected voice came from behind her, interrupting her. Lihua paused, looked back, and saw Otto, who had been stabbed through the chest by the Herrscher.
His body was stained red with blood, and a gaping hole was in his chest. Though his spine was broken, he still managed to raise his head. He looked at Lihua with a terrified gaze, begging, "Don't do this… please. Don't use that… I beg you…!"
However, Otto's pleas didn't change Lihua's mind. She smiled at him gently, and then resolutely turned around to face her enemy.
"Otto, I will protect you—and everyone else."
The next moment, she raised the sword.