Chapter 16: I’ve Completely Adapted to This Body!
***
Jiang Qiao felt extremely embarrassed after receiving the reminder.
Because he had been constantly paying attention to the situation in Nagazora City, as well as sorting out Elysia’s interpersonal relationships, he hadn’t had any time to explore the power of this body.
The only thing he had used was the extraordinary physical constitution, having a sparring match with Ato yesterday.
But this behavior was undoubtedly extremely foolish.
He wasn’t even a MANTIS yet, and moreover, Elysia wasn’t the type who excelled at physical combat.
As a Herrscher, what Elysia was most praised for was her exquisite Honkai Energy manipulation techniques, which even Kevin, the strongest MANTIS, admired greatly.
“Look at this pig brain of mine.”
The pink-haired girl patted her head in frustration.
Elysia: “Let me teach you some basics now.”
Although expressing it through text wasn’t very clear, Elysia on the other side still planned to teach Jiang Qiao the correct way to use her body as much as possible.
At times like this, she would think, if only there were more convenient methods, like being able to send her techniques as a red envelope to Jiang Qiao.
— Elysia has sent【Honkai Energy Utilization Techniques Red Envelope — Pink Elf Limited Edition】
…Huh? That actually works?
— Jiang Qiao has received it.
In reality, Jiang Qiao’s mind went blank when he received the red envelope.
So the chat group could be used like this?
But—
In an instant, a glimmer of brilliance flashed through the eyes of the pink-haired girl walking in the snow.
“So that’s how it is? I completely understand now!”
Jiang Qiao: “WRYYYYYYYYY, I’ve completely mastered the usage techniques for this body!”
Jiang Qiao: “This refreshing feeling, I’m really high as hell right now!”
Sakura Kyoko: “Wow, that feels so disgusting.”
Hu Tao: “Indeed.”
Yunyun: “…It really is a bit.”
Elysia was also stunned watching this.
Then she felt a hint of regret.
How does it feel like I’ve opened some incredible door? Is it still possible to close it now?
The answer was of course — it was already too late!
“Swoosh—”
An arrow with a sonic boom pierced through the massive Honkai Beast, its powerful kinetic energy overturning a large area.
Slowly lowering her drawn bowstring, the pink-haired girl standing in the snow wore a confident smile.
Ah, right now I only feel refreshed.
The sky… cough cough.
Jiang Qiao, who almost set up a death flag, reacted in time and abandoned that invincible mindset.
“How does it feel like you’re different from before?”
Zhi, who was accompanying the team, hesitated before asking about his confusion.
It just felt like the current Elysia suddenly had some kind of flamboyant quality, giving off an illusion of lawlessness.
“How could that be? It’s probably just your imagination.”
Jiang Qiao laughed it off and put down the bow in his hands.
In fact, he still didn’t really know how to use a bow and arrow.
After all, what Elysia gave him were only Honkai Energy manipulation techniques, not weapon techniques.
But that’s fine, Honkai Energy is omnipotent.
With Elysia’s Honkai Energy manipulation techniques, although technique doesn’t equal experience, Jiang Qiao could still fully utilize the power of this body that was essentially a Herrscher.
He could even further develop Elysia’s body.
Elysia didn’t know she was a Herrscher, but Jiang Qiao knew, and he also clearly understood what authority Elysia possessed as the Herrscher of Origin.
Understanding this, after obtaining the techniques, he instantly figured out usage methods that even Elysia didn’t know about.
In other words, Jiang Qiao now understood this body even better than Elysia herself!
“Hmph, the 2nd Herrscher?”
He looked into the distance, sensing that massive, familiar Honkai Energy reaction source, the corner of his mouth curving into an arc.
If there had been concerns about confronting a Herrscher before, then Jiang Qiao now felt only relaxed.
You’re a Herrscher, and I’m a Herrscher too!
The further they advanced, the more they could see traces of intense heat, as if the air itself still contained residual scorching heat.
— These were traces of Honkai Energy fission bombs.
According to information revealed by Zhi, even before they arrived, Fire Moth had already attempted an assault with high-powered weapons, but unfortunately the battle situation was poor, and the bombed village remained completely intact.
It was as if it had been relocated.
Based on this, Fire Moth researchers made a judgment about the 2nd Herrscher’s ability nature — space.
The specific situation would require further probing and testing.
There was no choice. Unlike 50,000 years later when they could rely on archaeological records, people of this era had to fight the Honkai like exploring a new dungeon, spending enormous effort to obtain information about Herrschers, then finding targeted solutions to deal with them.
Confidently charging at them with human military might? The First Herrscher had already shattered humanity’s pride.
To put it bluntly, this batch of Fire Moth warriors including Elysia were essentially serving as advance scouts to test the Herrscher.
If they were lucky, they could directly subjugate the Herrscher. If unlucky, they would just be cannon fodder for testing the Herrscher.
The further they advanced, the more difficult it became. Not only was the strength of Honkai Beasts increasing, but the Honkai Energy concentration in the air was also rising exponentially.
The Honkai Energy concentration at Jiang Qiao’s current position had reached the level where instruments would beep continuously. Ordinary people would contract Honkai sickness after just one second of exposure, then basically die within a minute.
And the team members? Although they had specially-made anti-Honkai Energy protective suits, and Fire Moth soldier selection naturally required some Honkai Energy resistance, he had already seen purple marks appearing on several people’s bodies. Undoubtedly, these were traces of Honkai Energy infection.
Even Zhi was no exception.
This man’s breathing had become abnormally heavy and labored.
“Looks like this is as far as we go.”
He had also noticed the abnormalities in his body and felt somewhat regretful. When looking at Jiang Qiao, however, there was some admiration:
“As expected of Elysia, you’re much stronger than us.”
Compared to them, Jiang Qiao showed no changes at all.
This must be what they call high Honkai Energy resistance individuals, right? The type blessed by heaven with natural talent.
Only Jiang Qiao himself knew clearly that how could a Herrscher possibly be infected by Honkai Energy?
“Well then, you should stay here.”
It was impossible for them to continue advancing. Jiang Qiao understood this clearly. Further advancement would only be throwing their lives away, and they might not even get to see the Herrscher’s face.
What they could do next was retreat from the inner area and then clear out the peripheral Honkai creatures.
While he himself had to advance.
Although Jiang Qiao could also choose to give up, having come this far, even if he retreated, no one would blame him. Even if the 2nd Herrscher wasn’t subjugated by Elysia, it would definitely be subjugated by someone else.
At most, the losses would just be greater.
But—
“Even Elysia on the other side can muster the courage to save Nagazora City. If I were to retreat here, that would be way too pathetic, wouldn’t it?”
There was no way he could retreat even a single step!