As the three conversed in the car, it pulled up to the military cordon. Makeshift fortifications had been erected, and heavily armed soldiers stood guard, vigilantly monitoring the situation.
The surrounding residential area had been evacuated as a precaution against escalating conflict.
"Captain Wang!" A military officer hurried over as he saw the Anomaly Response Division vehicle. "Thank goodness you're back. Things are rough. We're considering sending a small, elite squad to take out one of the monsters. A mission of this difficulty requires your leadership—"
The anxious officer froze as the car door opened, revealing Lihua. He was taken aback to see a young girl at the edge of such a dangerous battlefield.
"Are the Minotauros in that direction?" Lihua picked up the faint sounds of gunfire and explosions carried on the wind, a clear sign of the intense fighting.
No need for further discussion. Time for action.
In a flash, Lihua shot off like an arrow towards the heart of the battle. The soldiers barely had time to react as she zipped past the barbed wire and barricades into the alleyways.
"Wait—what the?! That fast?!" Seeing the unfamiliar girl rush towards the battlefield, the officer panicked. Even seasoned soldiers weren't guaranteed survival there, let alone a young girl. "Third Squad, with me—"
"Lao Zhang, she doesn't need rescuing." Wang Chui, emerging from the car, stopped the officer. "Just watch. She's here to save our people."
Lihua's overall combat capabilities are still lacking. Lihua assessed as she ran towards the battlefield.
Despite having exchanged for numerous traits, making her far stronger than ordinary humans, she was still outmatched by truly superhuman entities.
Case in point: she couldn't even scale buildings and leap across rooftops, something commonplace in many fictional worlds.
Lihua possessed no supernatural powers. She had advanced combat skills, enhanced strength, and regenerative abilities.
Honkai energy was the power source in the Honkai-verse. But while Lihua had high Honkai resistance, she couldn't utilize it. She couldn't replicate the feats of Honkai characters, like surviving a multi-kilometer fall without a parachute.
Her Honkai manipulation was limited to using Divine Keys. Directly enhancing herself with Honkai energy was beyond her.
No helping it. The shop hasn't offered any Honkai control traits.
Therefore, her greatest asset was the Judgment of Shamash.
Without it, she wouldn't be confident taking on multiple Minotauros. Even the Tomato Devil would have been a tough fight.
But the Judgment of Shamash was so powerful that it compensated for her physical limitations, allowing her to slice through monsters like butter.
Maybe my clones can find ways to gain power without relying on energy. Stronger clones would be much more convenient.
At least then I could travel between buildings like a superhero, instead of running on foot…
Turning a corner, the scene opened up, the sound of gunfire intensifying.
Bodies littered the narrow intersection – civilians, soldiers… Their blood stained the asphalt dark.
The Minotauros, the culprits behind this carnage, roared and swung motorcycles like clubs, using them to deflect bullets.
This defense was clearly ineffective. The Minotauros' bodies were riddled with bullet holes, oozing blood. They looked battered.
The machine guns behind the barricades were still taking a toll. Soldiers with assault rifles provided suppressing fire, drawing the monsters' attention.
But the heavy machine gun fire seemed to be the final straw. A particularly large Minotaur bellowed, charged towards a parked car despite the hail of bullets, and hurled it towards the machine gun nest!
The soldiers at the firing position watched in horror as the car hurtled towards them. Their flimsy cover wouldn't withstand such an impact. They were dead—
Tssss.
With a sound like a hot knife through butter, the airborne car was bisected cleanly, sailing harmlessly over the soldiers and crashing into a shop behind them.
Their savior, in this moment of desperation, was none other than Lihua.
"I commend your bravery." Lihua swung her flaming greatsword as if to shake off non-existent blood. "I'll take it from here. Please evacuate."
"Just be careful—" In the blink of an eye, Lihua appeared above the Minotaur that had thrown the car, her flaming greatsword held high. "Don't get too close to my blade."
Fire erupted downwards. The imposing minotaur instantly turned to ash, leaving behind only a purple crystal.
Four more.
Lihua didn't stop. Her flaming greatsword traced a burning line through the air as she charged the two remaining Minotauros huddled together.
They reacted, swinging their makeshift motorcycle weapons, but their efforts were futile against the searing heat of the Judgment of Shamash. In a flash, both Minotauros and their motorcycles were reduced to cinders.
Two left. One is—behind me!
Lihua ducked under a surprise attack from behind, spun around, and landed a roundhouse kick squarely in the attacking Minotaur's eye. With a pained bellow, the Minotaur stumbled back, only to be dispatched by Lihua's blade.
Thanks to her main body's heightened senses, Lihua's perception was also enhanced. A Minotaur that size couldn't hope to ambush her.
Just one left.
As Lihua approached, her flaming greatsword held menacingly, the last Minotaur trembled and ran.
Do these monsters even know fear?
Lihua didn't know, nor did she care.
She switched the Judgment of Shamash back to its dual pistol mode and used the fleeing Minotaur as target practice.
Not bad marksmanship.
Watching the final Minotaur dissolve into a magic stone, Lihua holstered her pistols with satisfaction.
Perfect for slaying monsters and toasting bread. The Judgment of Shamash truly is an all-purpose tool.