Chapter 1049: Traditional Skill (Revised)

Chapter 1049: Traditional Arts (Revised)

A deafening rumble!

Death energy surged like a crimson tidal wave, sweeping across the earth before crashing against an energy shield, igniting endless sparks and arcs of lightning.

The sovereign avatar of Mechanical Disaster Francisco spread his hands wide to sustain the barrier, locking in a stalemate against the flood-like torrent of death energy; every circuit on his mechanical frame blazed with brilliant psionic light, and his rear thrusters roared at full capacity, spewing six jets of azure flame dozens of meters long, yet he could not halt his retreat, forced backward by the relentless pressure.

Glancing back, he spotted the Red Demon Tolein and the Desolate Beast Metis cowering behind his shield, occasionally popping up to unleash ranged kinetic waves or offensive spells before darting back into cover, a sight that drove Francisco to the brink of fury.

They were supposed to be melee fighters, yet here they were playing the turtle, hiding behind me to spray their shots.

What, have you two mistaken me for a mere cover?

"Enough of this nonsense, get in there!"

Francisco was utterly incensed.

The battle had raged for some time now, and the tides across several fronts had shifted; Black Star and Ksuye were still locked in their "fierce engagement," while more and more mechanical troops "broke through" Ksuye's defenses to reinforce Hela.

Here, bolstered by growing reinforcements, Hela had freed herself to intensify her assault, causing Tolein and Metis to grow increasingly timid; though the trio had initially held the upper hand, the shifting momentum now threatened to even the odds, largely due to the mechanical forces Ksuye had let slip through. Empowered by Black Star's mechanical resonance, their combat prowess was formidable and could not be ignored, perfectly fulfilling their roles as ideal allies and battlefield agitators.

The fleet engagement in outer space fared little better; Francisco's mechanical legions were suffering from Han Xiao's virtual incursions, with squadrons of combat drones occasionally turning traitor to fire upon their own ranks, allowing a portion of the fleet to break free from containment and provide long-range artillery support to Hela, further fracturing the trio's focus.

He had to deal damage, absorb blows, pin down the fleet, and even divert his attention to the virtual realm to guard his mechanical forces' vulnerabilities from Black Star's grasp... playing both father and mother, Francisco felt an overwhelming exhaustion settle in his chest.

—This is too much; I can't even find peace in a cell!

Only the front held by Sagman offered him any solace; Sagman and Talerdi were faring splendidly, on the verge of dismantling every star gate.

"Once they complete their task, they can join the fray, shatter this stalemate, secure absolute dominance, and crush Hela to death!" Francisco murmured inwardly.

He knew the Ethereal Sect had secretly provided Talerdi with a special trump card capable of subduing Hela; according to the plan, once all five converged, it would be deployed to deliver a fatal blow.

This trump card consisted of several magical scrolls, single-use consumables storing immensely potent forbidden spells exclusive to the Ethereals, infused with divine power.

The most formidable among them was titled [Forbidden Spell: Embrace of the Weeping Nun]. The spell originally required multiple casters and considerable time to weave, but sealed within a scroll, it could be unleashed instantaneously.

Because the Ethereal Sect had once enjoyed a golden age of arcane mastery long ago, numerous forbidden scrolls of Super-A tier power had survived the ages. The spell stored in this particular scroll was woven by four Super-A mages in concert, one of whom stood at the absolute pinnacle of that rank, rendering its magical potency utterly staggering.

Knowledge of these scrolls was restricted to Talerdi, Sagman, and Francisco; the rest of the team remained unaware, Ksuye included. The Ethereal Sect understood Ksuye's nature; he was already deeply reluctant to gang up on a newly ascended Super-A, and if he learned ahead of time of their intent to deploy such a devastating one-time weapon, complications might arise. Thus, they withheld the information, demanding only that he hold Black Star at bay.

As for why only these three were informed, it was precisely because they were the most trustworthy and utterly devoid of scruples, making them ideal collaborators; besides, once the scroll was unleashed, the remaining allies would naturally follow suit and focus their fire.

Across the battlefield, Crimson Serpent Prime had shifted into combat form, his visage concealed, while Hela moved with lethal grace, darting through the fray, weaving death energy with every motion, yet harboring a quiet urgency.

She grasped the situation clearly; though aided by the mechanical forces, she could currently parry the trio of mechanical disasters, she knew this stalemate would not hold. Once Sagman and Talerdi joined the melee, she would surely break.

—If I do nothing, this will be a slow death,

Though Han Xiao had recently messaged her, informing her that his primary body was riding to her aid, Hela's nature dictated that in moments of peril, she would not rely entirely on others, but strive to save herself.

"Reinforcements are absent, retreat is cut off, and two more formidable foes may join at any moment. To survive, I must withstand a five-man assault. Even with mechanical troops and fleet support, this is a dead end; I must rely on myself. What hidden trump cards remain to me..." Hela forced herself to remain calm, her mind racing to find a way out.

Ideas sprang forth and were swiftly discarded until only a single course of action remained in her mind.

"I can only try my utmost..."

Hela grit her teeth.

...

A massive beam pierced the final outpost star gate station, sending shattered components scattering into the void; the explosive energy shockwave caused the shields of the surrounding defense fleet to flicker violently, sparking sheets of plasma arcs.

"Star gate station destroyed, move out!"

Sagman, unwilling to prolong the engagement, suddenly photonicized, transforming into a swirling aura of pale gold light that enveloped Talerdi before surging forward at breakneck speed, streaking away from the star gate battlefield as a luminous trail, dragging a particle-rich golden wake as he headed straight for Hela in the distance.

Anticipating that the activation of the spatial stabilizer would disrupt summoning arts, Talerdi had prepared in advance, crafting a stack of summoning scrolls early on; the moment the teleportation rift appeared, he tore them open frantically, conjuring a reasonably sized legion of summoned beasts. Meanwhile, he temporarily shifted his combat style from summoner to artillery platform to adapt to the circumstances.

His mastery of summoning did not preclude him from studying other magical disciplines; he simply lacked the same level of proficiency in them.

Any Super-A powerhouse typically possessed numerous backup tactical styles, especially mages renowned for their versatility; regardless of their usual combat preference, they could seamlessly shift to a spell-casting artillery role when needed... firepower intensity mattered less than the ability to keep firing.

Thanks to Ksuye's deliberate leniency, a small contingent of mechanical combat drones slipped through, attempting to intercept the pair.

Yet the photonicized Sagman proved exceedingly agile, weaving through sharp turns and evasive maneuvers, refusing to engage the mechanical forces head-on; he drifted with the skill of a seasoned veteran, a feat only bearable because his passenger Talerdi was a Super-A; any ordinary soul would have vomited their bile.

Sagman's psionic affinity with photonic energy allowed him to navigate curves at blistering speeds; he carved a wide arc to shake off the intercepting mechanical troops, entering Hela's battlefield and hovering in the planet's mid-atmosphere.

"You've finally arrived, hurry and help!"

Mechanical Disaster Francisco had grown weary of his orphaned teammates, and now he was as thrilled as if he had spotted long-lost kin.

Sagman and Talerdi exchanged a glance, instantly reading the unspoken intent in each other's eyes.

—Create an opening, deploy the forbidden spell scroll!

Without a word, they plunged into the fray.

Photonic blasts and offensive spells erupted like rain, showcasing their true nature as masters of explosive devastation.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!

Explosions rippled through the sky, mechanical combat drones falling one after another; Hela found herself in immediate peril, forced to halt all offensive maneuvers and focus entirely on defense.

With their arrival, the balance of power tipped irrevocably; it was like a seesaw where Hela had barely managed, with fleet and mechanical aid, to pull the tilting plank back to center, only for two three-hundred-pound behemoths to drop onto the opposite end, their sheer weight launching Hela skyward.

...

Meanwhile, in the outer space theater, Han Xiao's sovereign avatar surveyed Hela's predicament and typed into Ksuye's private chat channel: "Hela cannot withstand a five-man assault. Stop holding me back, let me through."

Ksuye: "How do you want to stage this?"

"Hit me hard enough to send my sovereign avatar and a portion of the mechanical forces flying over there."

"The Ethereals ordered me to delay you; I cannot strike you back again. Moreover, if you join that battlefield, I must follow, which would force me to attack Hela directly, making her situation even more perilous." Ksuye shook his head slightly.

Acting was one thing, but he had no intention of offending the Ethereals; though his deliberate leniency was already vast enough to form an ocean, Ksuye could not be overt about it, lest he fail to account for his actions.

"Then perhaps... at a critical moment, unleash an area-of-effect attack to disrupt your allies' assault, and claim it was friendly fire."

"My telekinetic control is absolute; friendly fire is impossible."

"Then... simply let me destroy your avatar. That would be the most convenient."

"Impossible. Aside from whether your sovereign avatar could even defeat mine, I must remain here to prevent contingencies. That old bastard from the Mechanical Empire said Radiance is about to strike; I need to pretend to vie for Hela with them, tying down a portion of their forces."

Han Xiao was left momentarily speechless.

What is the self-cultivation of an actor? This is it!

He was utterly dedicated to his craft, truly moving enough to touch the Ethereals themselves!

"This won't work, that won't work, so what should we do?"

"Radiance will strike at any moment; once she does, I can turn my attention to her, and Hela's situation will no longer be so dire... If Hela can hold out for now, it is best to wait and see, biding our time for a variable." Ksuye replied.

"I need to think..." Han Xiao mused.

The two actors were quietly rehearsing their lines, but at that very moment, a sudden anomaly erupted!

SWISH!

Under the relentless barrage of five attackers, Hela revealed a fleeting opening; Mechanical Disaster Francisco seized the chance, clapping his hands together to unleash an intensely potent plasma electromagnetic field that pierced through the gaps torn in the death energy and latched onto Hela.

ZZZZT!

Arcs of electricity crackled and danced wildly; Hela's body stiffened, and her movements faltered, exposing a far greater vulnerability.

Sagman and Francesco pressed their advantage, unleashing more potent binding arts to enthrall Hela.

"Strange. Ever since we joined the fray, she has seemed somewhat distracted..."

The suspicion flickered through Sagman's mind, but he had no time to ponder it, barking into the mental group channel toward Talardi:

"Use the scroll!"

"Already prepared!"

Without a word, Talardi tore open a spell scroll of black parchment etched with white sigils, and it instantly blazed with radiance!

A rustling cascade!

As if a millennial prison had been unsealed, countless pallid magical runes, like frenzied dragons breaking their chains, shrieked forth from the scroll and struck Hela in full force.

In the next moment, the armor of the Crimson Serpent Prime was swarmed by eerie, ashen sigils, coalescing into the silhouette of a seductive woman that clung to Hela's form, her spectral arms slowly unfolding in a gesture of embrace.

A deep hum resonated!

An inexplicable force descended abruptly, locking Hela's movements; her body froze midair, the surging energy within her rapidly stilling, leaving her utterly immobilized.

[Forbidden Curse: Embrace of the Weeping Nun]!

"Focus fire!"

The duration of the control was fleeting, and Sagman dared not waste a second. He roared into the channel, unleashing every offensive technique he possessed in a relentless barrage aimed at Hela.

Tolien and Metes reacted instantly. Though unaware of the specifics, they would never squander such a prime opportunity to deal damage, each erupting with their most devastating assaults.

A thunderous roar!!!

Hela's figure was instantly swallowed by a kaleidoscope of erupting energy.

Though dazzling to behold, the true devastation was terrifying!

The Ksuye avatar whipped its head around.

"A forbidden curse scroll?!"

So the Void Spirit had been hiding another trick from me?!

Witnessing this, he abandoned all deliberation. Telekinetic force surged forth, seizing every mechanical unit, including Han Xiao's Sovereign avatar, and flung them toward Hela's battlefield, imparting a violent acceleration.

"Good heavens, what decisive action."

Soaring through the air, Han Xiao rode Ksuye's momentum, hurtling toward Hela's position, yet his mind remained untroubled.

Ksuye was unaware of Hela's true state, assuming she faced mortal peril, but Han Xiao knew she possessed a single instant-death revival ability. This concentrated barrage, though ferocious, would not kill her; it would merely force her to trigger her resurrection armor.

"In that case, I may have to resort to my contingency plan," Han Xiao murmured, his brow furrowing inwardly.

Had Hela's revival not been triggered, he could have taken greater risks later, but now, Han Xiao sensed that his strategy would need alteration.

Yet before he could reach the fray, a dense torrent of vital energy erupted violently from Hela's location!

A mournful wail——

Golden vitality surged skyward like a geyser!

The palpable aura of life left everyone momentarily stunned.

The five assailants, including Sagman, who had been laying waste to her, watched in disbelief as the grievous wounds they inflicted upon Hela healed within the span of a single breath!

As the forbidden curse's effect waned, Hela broke free from her restraints. The Crimson Prime armor lay in tatters, exposing vast stretches of flesh marred by gruesome, bleeding lacerations.

Yet the vital energy nourished her frame, and before all eyes, the torn wounds sealed themselves in an instant, leaving not even a scar, restoring her skin to a smooth, porcelain whiteness.

Sagman and the others stared with widened eyes, their hearts trembling with profound shock.

How could this be!!

Such terrifying regenerative power...

Where did she acquire such a force?

And why did it feel so hauntingly familiar...

In the next instant, they all whipped their heads around, their gazes locking onto Han Xiao's Sovereign avatar hovering midair, faces etched with astonishment.

This... was not Black Star's ability?!

Why did Hela possess it as well?

If there were any similarities between the two...

——Could this be a traditional art of the Hai Lan Star natives?!

At that moment, Ksuye's voice drifted forth, low and eerie.

"Black Star, are all you Hai Lan Star natives... utterly unkillable?"

"Truly not. We lack such a talent..." Han Xiao offered an awkward smile.

Had he been his true body rather than a Sovereign avatar at that moment, he likely would have drawn a sharp, chilling breath.

Hela had forged a boundless life-link with Aurora mid-combat; otherwise, how could she possibly unleash such vital energy!

To master a new skill on the battlefield... young lady, are you perhaps another protagonist archetype?

It makes no sense; you are clearly a villain.

Han Xiao bit back his astonishment. For Hela, activating that boundless life-link with Aurora was akin to unblocking her meridians, catapulting her power to the heavens!

Her base combat strength had not increased, but she now carried a supreme healer at her side. As long as Aurora's stamina held, Hela possessed terrifying regeneration, endurance, and stamina!

Han Xiao's heart gave a painful throb; he nearly felt the urge to call the authorities.

——I thought I was already monstrous enough, never expecting you to wield such blatant cheats!

If Hela had possessed Aurora as an "accessory" in her past life... the consequences were unimaginable.

Alas, in that past life, her cheat had not yet arrived before the Sprout Leader squandered it all.

"Again!"

Hela's aura flared, her battle spirit surging like a tide.

Aurora could now fight alongside her in this manner, having spared her from a mortal crisis. As the saying goes, when sisters share one heart, their strength can sever metal; Hela's mindset had shifted, no longer rejecting Aurora's aid.

Super-A rank regeneration demanded greater vital energy, but Aurora had now ascended to the Calamity tier, her stamina vast enough to serve as Hela's bulwark, granting her the luxury to fight recklessly.

Hearing Hela's taunt, the five of Sagman's group hesitated, uncertain whether to press their assault.

Han Xiao halted midair, making no move to close the distance, while Ksuye observed from afar.

All combatants ceased their actions, glancing at one another in wide-eyed silence, the atmosphere thickening with an eerie tension.

Yet at that very moment, everyone present suddenly sensed a bizarre fluctuation, turning their heads in unison.

A resonant hum!

Not far from the stronghold, a Radiant Federation fleet breached the constraints of the spatial stabilizers, materializing from illusion into reality, and abruptly manifested within the battlefield.

Ahead of the fleet, six Super-A rank warriors stood in a straight line, their aura majestic and unyielding, all fixated on the assembled crowd, their gazes clashing and sparking in the air.

"They have arrived." Ksuye lifted his gaze to the distance, speaking with calm detachment.

Witnessing such a spectacular entrance, Han Xiao could not help but silently dub the scene in his mind:

——The Radiant Federation, presents itself!